Macron in crisis: French President’s popularity hits new low – shock poll

Only 29 percent of those surveyed reported a favourable opinion of Mr Macron in October, down from 32 percent last month, the BVA-Orange poll for RTL radio and La Tribune found.

This is the lowest rating recorded by the pollster since the young leader took power 17 months ago.

An overwhelming 70 percent expressed an unfavourable opinion of Mr Macron, up three percentage points from last month.

The 40-year-old centrist is now more unpopular than his conservative Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who is viewed favourably by 40 percent of the French.

Some 57 percent of those polled said they had an unfavourable opinion of Mr Philippe, while three percent refused to answer.

Erwan Lestrohan of pollster BVA said: “The difference in popularity between Emmanuel Macron and Edouard Philippe has never been so important.” 

Another survey published on Wednesday confirmed the downward trend observed since the summer break.

The Ifop poll for Le Point found that Mr Macron’s satisfaction rating was “stable” at 26 percent, from 25 percent in September. Some 70 percent of respondents said they held an unfavourable opinion of him, up one point in one month.

The Ifop survey also found that Mr Philippe is less disliked than the president, with a dissatisfaction rating of 59 per cent, down four points from last month. 

Mr Macron reshuffled his cabinet last week and made a rare televised address to reassure France that all is well after a scandal involving his ex-bodyguard and a string of ministerial resignations undermined his authority and put intense spotlight on his lack of political experience.

But he hopes the cabinet rejig will steady his administration and inject new momentum into his reform agenda, which was put on hiatus as he weathered the storm.

Plans to slash public spending and overhaul the wieldy pension and strained public healthcare systems as well as the constitution are all up next on Mr Macron’s agenda.

But there is increasing concern that the Macron administration is “destroying” the French social model.

Violence broke out last month as thousands of people demonstrated against his unpopular social reforms.

The interior ministry said nine people were arrested in Paris, where one protester and a police officer were hurt after up to 300 anarchists stormed the rally, hurling projectiles at police, who hit back with teargas.

Marchers carried banners saying they had had enough of austerity and unemployment, with many saying that Mr Macron’s reforms will “disadvantage the weakest in society”.

Unions are planning further protests in the coming months on specific reforms but no specific dates have been set.

The BVA-Orange poll of 1,090 people was carried out between October 24 and October 25, while the Ifop poll of 1,003 people was carried out between October 19 and October 20.