Macron hits record low - Only 19% of French back him
Photo: French President Emmanuel Macron (Getty Images)
Only 19% of French citizens approve of the work of President Emmanuel Macron and his Prime Minister, François Bayrou. The poll reveals deep public dissatisfaction with the actions of the government, Le Figaro reports.
As it turns out, Macron, who has been in power since 2017, and François Bayrou, who was appointed Prime Minister in December of last year, form the most unpopular executive duo in France.
The IFOP/JDD poll shows that currently only 19% of respondents are satisfied with Macron's performance, although that is still higher than former President François Hollande's approval at one point, which fell to just 13%.
However, Bayrou's approval stands at 18%, bringing their combined support to 37%.
For comparison: during Hollande's presidency, his Prime Minister Manuel Valls had a 38% approval rating, giving the president and prime minister a combined rating of 51%.
Macron currently has the lowest trust rating of his entire presidency. Previously, his popularity had never dropped below 20%.
Even during the Yellow Vest protests, when Macron became the main target of public anger, he still had 23% support.
After the resignation of Michel Barnier's government, triggered by a vote of no confidence, the president's approval rating stood at 21%, and even rose to 28% in April of last year.
This increase was attributed to Donald Trump's sharp statements on tariffs, international instability, and a so-called "rally-around-the-flag" effect. However, that boost in trust eventually disappeared.
Even among Macron's own voters from the 2022 presidential election, only 49% are currently satisfied with his performance.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Bayrou has become the least popular head of government in modern French history.
In December of last year, French President Emmanuel Macron appointed a new Prime Minister. It was François Bayrou, Head of the Democratic Movement (MoDem) party.
This came after the government, led by Prime Minister Michel Barnier, resigned following a vote of no confidence in the National Assembly.
This was the first time since 1962 that a French government lost the confidence of Parliament, further underscoring the deep political instability in the country.
