Macron's popularity hits lowest level since 2017, Le Pen losing ground

Protests by secondary-school pupils, a fuel crisis and a budget debate getting off to a bad start in the National Assembly, where there is no majority, the government is facing a string of difficulties that are being reflected in opinion polls.

Seven months before the end of his second term, Emmanuel Macron’s popularity has fallen to its lowest level since he entered the Elysée Palace in 2017, according to a new barometer published at the weekend.

According to the Ipsos BVA-Cesi survey (source in French) for La Tribune Dimanche, only 15% of those questioned have a favourable opinion of the French President, one point down from a month earlier.

The backlash is hitting the president harder than his Prime Minister. Sébastien Lecornu’s popularity has edged up slightly, gaining two points in a month: 22% of French people now view his performance positively.

Purchasing power remains the French public’s main concern, cited by 54% of respondents, a stable figure. The future of the welfare system comes second, at 44% (+4 points), ahead of the level of public debt, which worries 33% of those surveyed (+3 points).

Three far-right figures in the top five

Among the political figures seen as possible successors to Emmanuel Macron, far-right leaders Jordan Bardella and Marine Le Pen continue to dominate the rankings, with 33% and 32% favourable opinions respectively.

Their ratings have, however, slipped compared with the previous month: Jordan Bardella is down three points and Marine Le Pen four.

This fall comes in the wake of revelations by Mediapart about antisemitic and conspiracist messages attributed to Jordan Bardella, posted from an old Facebook account. The President of the Rassemblement national has denied the accusations.

The online survey was carried out on 7 and 8 October among 1,000 adults, a few days after Mediapart published its first article on the affair, on 28 September.

Behind Bardella and Le Pen, former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe takes third place, with 20% satisfied, up one point.

Sarah Knafo, a leading figure in Reconquête, the nationalist party led by Éric Zemmour, and François Hollande, the former Socialist President, round out the top five. Both receive 18% favourable opinions. Neither has yet declared a presidential bid.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the radical left’s candidate, comes next with 17 % favourable opinions, level with centrist Gabriel Attal and the Republicans’ leader, Bruno Retailleau.

The leader of La France Insoumise party nevertheless stands out for an exceptionally high rejection rate: according to the study, 69% of French people say they would be unhappy if he were to move into the Elysée.

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