Emmanuel Macron's approval rating has fallen to its lowest point since he first won the Élysée Palace in 2017, according to a new Ipsos BVA-Cesi barometer published on Sunday in La Tribune Dimanche. Just 15% of respondents hold a favourable view of the president, a decline of one percentage point from the previous month. The survey was conducted on 7 and 8 October among 1,000 adults.
The slump comes amid a series of difficulties for the government: protests by secondary-school pupils, a fuel crisis, and a budget debate that has begun badly in a National Assembly where the government lacks a majority. These challenges are clearly taking a toll on public opinion.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, by contrast, has seen a modest uptick: 22% of French people now view his performance positively, a gain of two points in a month. The president is bearing the brunt of public discontent more heavily than his head of government.
Far-right leaders lose ground
Among potential successors to Macron, far-right figures Jordan Bardella and Marine Le Pen continue to lead the pack, with 33% and 32% favourable opinions respectively. However, both have lost ground compared with the previous month: Bardella is down three points and Le Pen four.
This decline follows revelations by Mediapart about antisemitic and conspiracist messages attributed to Bardella, posted from an old Facebook account. The president of the Rassemblement national has denied the accusations. The first article in the series was published on 28 September, just days before the survey was carried out.
Behind Bardella and Le Pen, former Prime Minister Édouard 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 former Socialist President François Hollande round out the top five, each with 18% favourable opinions. Neither has yet declared a presidential bid.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the radical left's candidate, follows with 17% favourable opinions, level with centrist Gabriel Attal and the Republicans' leader, Bruno Retailleau.
The survey highlights the public's top concerns: purchasing power remains the primary worry, cited by 54% of respondents, a stable figure. The future of the welfare system comes second at 44% (+4 points), ahead of public debt, which concerns 33% (+3 points).
Macron's dwindling popularity underscores the broader political volatility in France, where the far right remains a dominant force despite recent setbacks. With seven months left in his second term, the president faces an increasingly difficult landscape, compounded by escalating student protests and a fuel crisis driven by farmers' blockades. The government's ability to navigate these challenges will be crucial in shaping the remaining months of Macron's presidency.
