The ongoing political crisis and financial decline in France continue to haunt President Emmanuel Macron, months after his decision to dissolve the National Assembly and call for early legislative elections. Instead of resolving the political deadlock, this move has only deepened it. Macron’s recent decisions have led to a sharp collapse in his popularity, with a barometer by “Le Journal du Dimanche” and “Ifop” revealing that 78% of the French population are dissatisfied with their president—a record level of disapproval.
According to the poll, Macron’s approval rating has plummeted to just 22%, the lowest point since François Mitterrand’s unpopularity in 1991. The political and economic turmoil in the country has severely eroded Macron’s standing, with his current performance seen as worse than during the “Yellow Vest” crisis in 2018. Since May, Macron has lost nine points in approval, following his loss in the elections and the dissolution of parliament. His decision to keep a caretaker government for an extended period, followed by the appointment of Michel Barnier as prime minister, has further complicated the situation, leading some politicians to call for his removal from office.
The latest survey indicates that Macron’s support among older voters is also shrinking, with only 24% of those over 65 and 23% of retirees backing him—both figures reflecting a six-point drop. This shows that Macron can no longer rely on his traditional voter base, according to the survey of 2,008 French citizens aged 18 and over, with a margin of error between 1 and 1.4 points.
Meanwhile, Michel Barnier’s government faces another challenge on Monday, as it attempts to pass the 2025 budget bill, which was rejected by the Finance Committee. Political parties have vowed to block the bill, while Barnier is considering invoking Article 49.3 to pass it without a vote. This move could spark yet another political crisis, as many French citizens view this article as undermining democracy—similar to the controversy surrounding the previous government’s pension reform, which led to widespread protests across France.
