The monthly poll by Ifop-Fiducial for the French weekly Paris Match and Sud Radio showed more than half of French people are now dissatisfied with the young centrist’s performance.
In total 51 percent of respondents said they “disapprove” of Mr Macron’s actions as president in the poll published today, up from 45 percent in January.
This is the first time the europhile’s popularity rating dropped below 50 per cent in the monthly poll since November, when just 44 percent of French people approved of his actions as president.
Among the 51 percent who see Mr Macron in an unfavourable light, 29 per cent said they “strongly disapprove” of his actions, up nine percentage points from January.
Just under half – 48 percent – told pollsters they “approve of his actions”, down five percentage points from last month.
Mr Macron was hit by an expected wave of protests at the start of the new year. Prison guards took to the streets to denounce the government’s failure to counter spiralling violence and Islamist activism inside the country’s overcrowded prisons; while care workers protested against staff shortages and cuts, calling on Mr Macron’s team to rethink care for the elderly.
The nationwide protests, according to Ifop-Fiducial, contributed to dragging down his approval ratings.
In addition, 40 percent of the 1,003 people adults questioned between February 2 and February 3, said Mr Macron “listened to citizens’ concerns”, while 51 percent said they approved of his economic policy and of his vision for France’s future.
However 77 percent approve of Mr Macron’s efforts to defend French interests abroad.
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe’s approval ratings also plummeted: 49 percent of French people said they “disapprove” of his actions as prime minister, up from 39 percent in January. Some 52 percent approve of his actions, down from 59 percent in January.