Public sentiment in France towards President Emmanuel Macron is declining sharply, with his popularity hitting a historic low as the search for his successor intensifies.
Recent polling from Ipsos bva-CESI indicates that Macron’s approval rating has plummeted to 16 percent, down from 21 percent in July, as reported by Le Figaro.
Even among those who support his centrist coalition, which includes the Horizons, Modem, and Renaissance parties, only 53 percent view him positively.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu also faces grim numbers, currently enjoying a favorable opinion from just 20 percent of the public, a drop from 27 percent in July.
All members of the government are struggling in the polls, with Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin at 38 percent popularity, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez at 25 percent, and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot only at 12 percent.
As French voters prepare to make their choice in a little over seven months, and with Macron unable to run again due to term limits, the unpopularity of his governing coalition could be a setback for those aspiring to carry on his neo-liberal and globalist vision, including former prime ministers Gabriel Attal and Édouard Philippe.
The Ipsos survey further reveals that the public is generally unimpressed with the range of candidates aspiring to the presidency.
Across the board, dissatisfaction appears prevalent towards candidates from both sides. The poll registered the highest dissatisfaction at 70 percent for far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon of La France Insoumise, followed by 61 percent for Green party leader Marine Tondelier and 60 percent for liberal former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.
Édouard Philippe, who is considered a key player for the liberal-centrist camp, has seen a dramatic increase in his negative rating, up by 12 points since July to 57 percent, while his support has dipped by 4 points to 19 percent.
Interestingly, even among those who expressed dissatisfaction, 52 percent indicated they would not be pleased with the election of National Rally leader Marine Le Pen. Nevertheless, she appears to be performing better than the other candidates in the race.
This sentiment is in line with other recent polls, which suggest Le Pen is positioned to succeed in both rounds of France’s presidential election scheduled for next April.
