Macron in CRISIS: Popularity PLUMMETS as France hit by riots – 400 injured

Just a quarter of those polled said they were satisfied with Mr Macron, according to an Ifop survey published in the Journal du Dimanche (JDD) on Sunday.

The French President’s approval rating – the amount of those satisfied by his performance – was down to 25 percent from 29 percent in October, according to the survey of almost 2,000 people between November 9 and 17.

It comes as Mr Macron faced a weekend of violent protests over his fuel tax hikes, with more than 400 people injured and one woman killed in the protests.

Around 288,0000 people took part in the protests by the “Yellow Vests” grassroots campaign, with furious demonstrators blocking roads across France.

More than 400 people were injured and one woman died after being accidentally hit by a driver in a blockade.

And at least 157 people were arrested during the riots.

The French President’s fuel tax reforms are aimed at pushing drivers towards less-polluting cars but they have sparked anger as the cost of motoring has soared.

Mr Macron has been accused of being out of touch with ordinary people over the policy.

In a separate Ifop poll published in the JDD on Sunday, 62 percent of those polled said the government should prioritise policies to help household incomes even if it meant slower progress on fighting climate change.

But France’s Prime Minister Edouard Philippe insisted the government would not back down on the reforms, with fuel tax set for another hike in January.

Speaking to France 2 television, Mr Philippe said: “The path we’ve set out on is the right one and we’re going to stick to it.”

And Environment Minister Francois de Rugy echoed the tough message.

He said: “I would prefer to announce tax cuts but we need levers to fight climate change.”

It is the latest incident to rock Mr Macron’s presidency since he came into office in May 2017.

The French President was plunged into crisis over the summer after the violent conduct scandal of his security officer Alexandre Benalla.

And a number of Mr Macron’s key minister have walked out in recent months.

The French President’s popularity has sunk to as low as 21 percent in other recent polls.