Macron's plummeting popularity: 79% of French dissatisfied with his leadership

French President Emmanuel Macron's approval rating has plummeted to a record low, with only 21% of respondents expressing satisfaction with his leadership, leaving a striking 79% dissatisfied as he reaches the midpoint of his second five-year term.

According to the latest Ifop-Journal du Dimanche barometer, released on January 25, Macron's unpopularity extends even to his core electoral base, where support has dropped by seven points since 2022, Caliber.Az reports, citing French media.

Among older citizens and retirees, dissatisfaction is even more pronounced, with a 10-point decline attributed to policies such as the increase in the CSG (social levy) and ongoing debates about retirees' financial contributions.

Frédéric Dabi, head of Ifop, highlighted this erosion of trust: "The increase in the CSG and the incessant debates around the financial efforts of retirees partly explain the distrust of these categories."

The report suggests that Macron's international focus has added to public discontent. "He wanders abroad and is no longer interested in us," remarked one survey respondent. Another added, "We are waiting for him to get the country out of the crisis, but he is not succeeding."

Although the proportion of "very dissatisfied" respondents has dropped slightly to 44%, criticism remains strong. Insults and harsh remarks have become less frequent, with many French citizens expressing muted resignation instead. "The French no longer expect much," notes the Journal du Dimanche.

Macron's reliance on Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne has also drawn criticism. "The head of state is accused of hiding behind his Prime Minister," said Dabi. However, the report indicates that formal calls for his resignation remain absent from public commentary.

With his popularity at an all-time low, Macron faces mounting challenges as dissatisfaction continues to grow across demographic groups and policy areas.

By Khagan Isayev