A recent survey indicates that President Macron and Prime Minister Bayrou are currently the least popular leaders in modern French history.
President Emmanuel Macron’s approval rating has dipped below 20% for the first time in his presidency, fueled by growing discontent over increased military expenditures and reductions in social programs. A parallel poll revealed that Prime Minister Francois Bayrou is also struggling with low approval, resulting in the pair having the lowest combined approval of any executive leadership in the Fifth Republic.
The IFOP survey, released on Monday, shows Macron’s approval at 19% and Bayrou’s at 18%, culminating in a joint approval rating of 37%, the lowest seen in modern France. Even at the height of the Yellow Vest protests, which were sparked by fuel taxes and economic disparity in 2018, Macron’s approval rating never fell below 23%.
Macron’s support has significantly decreased among those who voted for him in 2022, with only 49% still supporting him, a 12-point drop. His approval has also waned among business leaders and executives, falling by 18 and 8 points, respectively.
Bayrou, who assumed office following the collapse of Michel Barnier’s government in late 2024 due to internal coalition conflicts and public opposition to pension reforms, is now pushing forward with a contentious austerity program. Last week, he unveiled new tax policies targeting high-income earners in an effort to address a €43.8 billion ($48 billion) budget deficit.
The austerity measures include a freeze on pension payments and social welfare, limits on healthcare spending, and the elimination of two national holidays to boost productivity and reduce government expenditures. Left-wing figure Jean-Luc Melenchon has demanded Bayrou’s resignation, denouncing the measures as “intolerable injustices.”
Despite the cuts to social programs, defense spending continues to climb.
Macron has committed an additional €6.5 billion to the military over the next two years, citing increased threats to European security. This comes as France’s national debt reaches €3.3 trillion, approximately 114% of its GDP.
A recent French defense assessment has cautioned about a possible “major war” in Europe by 2030, identifying Russia as a primary threat. The Kremlin has refuted any plans to attack Western countries, and has accused NATO members of using perceived threats from Russia as justification for their military expansion.
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