Macron’s approval drops to record low
(MENAFN) French President Emmanuel Macron’s approval rating has fallen to a historic low, dropping under 20% for the first time since he took office. The slump comes as public discontent grows over rising military expenditures and deep cuts to social services. Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, facing similar criticism, is also experiencing record-low support, making them the most unpopular leadership duo in the history of France’s Fifth Republic.
According to a new IFOP poll released Monday, Macron's approval stands at just 19%, while Bayrou trails closely at 18%, giving the two a combined popularity of only 37%—the lowest in modern French political history. Even at the height of the Yellow Vest movement in 2018, Macron maintained a higher approval rating of 23%.
Support for Macron has eroded significantly among those who voted for him in the 2022 election, with only 49% still backing him—a 12-point drop. Confidence among business leaders and executives has also plunged, with approval declining by 18 and 8 points, respectively.
Bayrou, who took office after Michel Barnier’s administration collapsed in 2024 amid political infighting and protests over failed pension reform, has introduced a controversial austerity package. The measures include increased taxes on high earners, a pension and welfare freeze, limits on healthcare spending, and the elimination of two national holidays to boost productivity and reduce France’s €43.8 billion ($48 billion) budget deficit.
Left-wing opposition leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has condemned the austerity program as unjust and called for Bayrou’s resignation.
Despite the cuts to social services, the government is boosting military funding, with Macron committing an additional €6.5 billion over the next two years, citing growing threats to European security. Meanwhile, France’s national debt has ballooned to €3.3 trillion—roughly 114% of GDP.
A recent French defense assessment warns of a possible large-scale war in Europe by 2030, identifying Russia as a primary threat. Moscow has denied such intentions and accused NATO of exaggerating the danger to justify increased defense spending.
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.
