Macron Receives Poor Popularity Rating
(MENAFN) For the first time since he assumed office, French President Emmanuel Macron has seen his public approval rating fall below 20%, as disapproval grows over increasing military expenditures and reductions to welfare programs.
Prime Minister Francois Bayrou also received a poor rating in the same poll, forming with Macron what is now considered the most unpopular leadership duo in the history of the Fifth Republic.
Macron's popularity has dipped to just 19%, while Bayrou’s support has dropped to 18%. Their combined rating of 37% marks the lowest level of support for an executive pair in modern French political history, according to a recent survey by IFOP, released on Monday.
Notably, even during the height of the Yellow Vest demonstrations—a powerful anti-government uprising that erupted in 2018 in response to fuel tax hikes and economic injustice—Macron’s approval never fell below 23%.
The decline in Macron’s support is particularly pronounced among those who voted for him in 2022.
Only 49% of his previous supporters continue to approve of his leadership, reflecting a decrease of 12 percentage points.
Furthermore, approval from business professionals and senior managers has also significantly weakened, dropping by 18 and 8 points respectively.
Bayrou, who assumed the premiership after Michel Barnier’s administration unraveled in late 2024 due to persistent coalition tensions and public outrage over botched pension system overhauls, is now pushing forward a deeply divisive austerity strategy.
As part of his plan to reduce a €43.8 billion ($48 billion) budget deficit, Bayrou introduced fresh taxation on high-income individuals last week.
The broader austerity initiative includes freezing pensions and welfare assistance, placing limits on healthcare spending, and eliminating two national holidays to improve productivity and cut state expenses.
Prominent left-wing figure Jean-Luc Melenchon has demanded Bayrou’s departure from office, describing the proposed reforms as “intolerable injustices.”
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
