Macron's popularity falls to record low
September 23, 2018
French President Emmanuel Macron's popularity has hit its lowest level since the start of his term, a major tracker poll published on Sunday showed.
Just 29 percent of respondents said they were satisfied with his leadership, according data from research group Ifop, published in the Journal du Dimanche newspaper.
The Ifop poll showed a fall from 34 percent support last month and 39 percent two months ago.
Several other polls have also shown Macron's approval ratings falling sharply in recent months.
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Voters less convinced
The result follows several scandals to shake the 40-year-old centrist's administration, including Macron's slow response to accusations that his private bodyguard assaulted May Day protesters, and his sometimes patronizing tone with voters.
The president was criticized last week for telling an unemployed man he could easily get a job if he tried.
His leadership was also damaged by the surprise resignation of his environment minister, Nicolas Hulot, earlier this month, along with a vow by interior minister Gerard Collomb, one of Macron's closest allies, to run for election as mayor of Lyon in 2020.
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No more 'golden boy'
The former investment banker won the 2017 election with 66.1 percent of the vote on a reformist project to modernize the eurozone's second strongest power. He was quickly hailed as France's golden boy — a welcome change from his stuffy predecessor Francois Hollande.
But many Macron supporters have been quick to criticize his lack of action on the French economy, as there's been no major uptick in growth or significant fall in unemployment.
Some French voters, from conservative pensioners to low-income workers, now see his administration as favoring big business and the rich.
On Monday, his government will unveil its draft budget, which will again attempt to rein in France's chronic overspending via cuts to the public sector payroll and caps on pensions.
The Ifop poll was conducted from September 14 to 22 with a sample of 1,964 people.
mm/jm (AFP, Reuters)