Young Europeans lean towards political centre, Allianz Foundation study finds
Majority of young Europeans aged 16 to 39 tend to favour the political centre, particularly in Italy and Germany, according to the Allianz Foundation’s 2026 Next Generation Study.
Polling indicates 57% of young Europeans remain politically disengaged, preferring low-risk activities over active participation in protests or party membership.
Allianz Foundation’s Next Generation Study will next reveal updates on youth political engagement in early 2027, following the current findings released in March 2026.
Briefing summary
Younger Europeans predominantly identify with centrist political views, particularly in Italy and Germany, as revealed in the Allianz Foundation’s 2026 Next Generation Study.
Spain emerges as the most left-leaning nation among youth, while Poland shows high levels of far-right identification, evidencing notable political polarisation in both countries.
Despite some scepticism towards the EU, a significant 85% of young individuals express a sense of European identity, favouring sustainability over economic growth, and demonstrating varying levels of political engagement.
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Are young Europeans really left-leaning? Poll sheds some light
If you ever wondered whether young Europeans tend to vote for political parties on the left more than the right, the answer might be neither way.
Across the EU’s five largest member states, the majority of people aged 16 to 39 gravitate towards the political centre, particularly in Italy and Germany.
That’s according to the Allianz Foundation’s 2026 Next Generation Study.
Spain stands out as the most left-leaning country among young people, with 28% identifying either with the left or the far-left.
At the other end of the spectrum, Poland has the largest share of right or far-right-leaning youth, closely followed by France at 33%.
France and Poland are the most polarised societies
Both Poland and France also have the largest shares of young people who identify with the far-right specifically (17%) and the most frequently reported political divisions.
In France, 59% say this clash of ideals takes place among peers, while in Poland, it’s the age difference that is more likely to trigger political friction (68%).
Yet, across all five countries, one common thread emerges: a strong sense of European identity.
Some 85% of young people say they feel European – either unequivocally or to some degree.
Italy and France: The most Eurosceptic youths
Italy and France, however, show comparatively higher levels of scepticism, with nearly one in five people (18%) declaring little or no connection to Europe at all.
Another thing that appears to unite young Europeans is the vision of a different future.
The report says that on average 65% of youth and young adults “want to live in a society that moves beyond today’s dominant focus on economic growth”.
“They envision futures where sustainability, cleaner environments and more meaningful forms of political participation take precedence – even if it means accepting trade–offs such as slower progress or less consumer choice.”
This kind of thinking is shared almost equally across the left, centre and right of the political spectrum, the report states.
11% back radical political tactics, including violence
Yet, appetite for transformation has to reckon with signs of great frustration – particularly among people in their 30s, many of whom report feeling politically jaded and disillusioned with democracy.
Nearly half of young Europeans (47%) state a deep sense of political deprivation.
Meanwhile, 28% of them openly support what the study calls “regressive visions of society”, such as “restored traditional gender roles and marginalised minorities”.
Support for these views is highest in Poland (33%) and France (34%).
Ultimately, a sizable minority (11%) say they back extreme measures to crack down on political dissent, like abusing opponents or legitimising violence as a tool to force change. Support here peaks in France at 17%.
In any case, the majority of young Europeans (57%) say they are not much politically engaged, meaning that even if they hold political views and beliefs, they’re hesitant to take any concrete action beyond voting.
They rarely join political parties, take part in protests, support citizen initiatives or publish their own thoughts online, and prefer to “play it safe” by focusing on socially low-risk activities like petitions and donations.
Interestingly, for those who are politically engaged, the workplace has become one of the most common arenas for defending causes and expressing political ideas, in some cases more than protests themselves.