The poll, conducted by Ifop for the conservative weekly Le Journal du Dimanche, showed more than half of French people – 57 per cent – are now unhappy with the 40-year-old centrist.
When asked by pollsters whether they were satisfied or dissatisfied with Mr Macron’s actions as president, 23 percent said they were “very unhappy” with his actions, while 34 per cent said they were “quite unhappy,” up two percentage points from Ifop’s previous poll in February.
Forty-two per cent of respondents expressed satisfaction with the president’s actions. Six per cent said they were “very satisfied” and 36 per cent said they were “quite satisfied,” down two percentage points from last month.
Conservative premier Edouard Philippe’s popularity also dipped this month: some 54 per cent of respondents said they were dissatisfied with his actions as prime minister, up from 50 percent in February.
Only 43 percent said they approved of the job he is doing as prime minister, down three points from last month.
The drop in Mr Macron and Mr Philippe’s popularity comes after a whirlwind of tough reforms targeting illegal immigrants, rail workers, retirees and civil servants which the government says will help transform French society and reboot the economy.
Former French prime minister Dominique de Villepin, however, warned the government on Sunday against implementing its reform agenda at such a dizzying pace.
Mr de Villepin said in a joint interview with RTL radio, LCI television and newspaper Le Figaro: “In a country that has often felt blocked, and which has struggled to transform itself, the president is successfully changing the French mindset, which is essential… But [Mr Macron] must be careful: too much reform kills reform.
“Implementing a string of reforms, sleeping four hours a night, working with a small team – you can do this for a couple of months but after a while things start getting more difficult. You risk becoming more isolated and arrogant and will start losing touch with reality… Do not abuse your authority, or you will take too many blows and your [influence] will start to wear thin.”
Mr Macron must “choose his battles” more carefully, he added.
He said: “Mr Macron must show empathy and be more understanding, namely with members of the opposition. He must also encourage participatory democracy.”
The poll of 1,946 people was carried out online and by phone between March 9 and March 17.