Emmanuel Macron's popularity falls to lowest level since his election in 2017

POLITICS – Never more unpopular. The President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron, although withdrawn from the national scene since the appointment of Michel Barnier's government, is experiencing his worst level of popularity since his election in 2017, according to the YouGov barometer for HuffPost of this month of November 2024. The figure equals the worst total, recorded at the height of the yellow vest crisis at the end of 2018.

Forced into a sort of cohabitation with the head of his government from the Republicans, Emmanuel Macron had promised to change his method: from now on, we were essentially assured at Matignon as at the Élysée, the head of government governs and the president presides. But this erasure has not worked, so far, in favor of the head of state. The decline already observed in October continues and Emmanuel Macron loses 4 points in public opinion. Only 18% of French people surveyed judge his action favorably.

The President of the Republic is particularly losing ground among young people. While 40% in October had a favorable view of its action, there were only 29% one month later. Even more worrying: the loss of 17 points among Ensemble supporters, of whom only 62% now say they are satisfied (79% in October).

Barnier (falsely) stable

Opposite Michel Barnier is doing little better. Certainly, the head of government can pride himself on being more popular than the President of the Republic, with 24% favorable opinion. Neither more nor months after his appointment. But the devil is in the details. The Prime Minister recorded a significant increase (+8) in unfavorable opinions: 47% of French people surveyed now view his actions with distrust, compared to 39% in October. Clearly, those who gradually build an image of the head of government find it bad.

Like the President of the Republic, Michel Barnier loses points within those who are supposed to constitute his “common base” according to the established formula: namely his political family Les Républicains (27% unfavorable opinion, +13), and supporters Together (31%, +6). Is it the fault of the budgetary policy initiated by the Prime Minister? The disintegration of its base in public opinion in any case echoes that of the deputies in the National Assembly, where surprising situations occurred during the examination of the PLF or the PLFSSS 2025 with a government put in difficulty by the MPs supposed to support him.

At the same time, the share of French people who said they had no opinion on the Prime Minister also shrank, after a month of Barnier's government. While 37% of respondents said “not knowing” how to judge the action of the head of government, only 29% remain undecided. That is 8 points… which visibly increased the number of dissatisfied people.

The survey was carried out from November 4 to 7, 2024 on 1019 people representative of the French national population aged 18 and over. The survey was carried out online, on the proprietary YouGov France panel.

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