Little known to the general public, the new tenant of Matignon is at the top of the most appreciated political figures in the latest Ifop-Fiducial barometer for Paris match and Sud Radio. Among the French people’s favorite faces, we also find Édouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal. Emmanuel Macron ranks far behind.
The French seem to want to give him a chance. Barely 12 days after his arrival at Matignon, Michel Barnier has entered the top of the ranking of the French people’s favorite political figures: the Prime Minister has garnered 57% favorable opinions according to an Ifop-Fiducial poll for Paris Match and Sud radio.
And so what if the ministerial casting for the new government seems to be slipping, between endless consultations and a presidential camp that is hesitant to participate.
Edouard Philippe in ambush
The honeymoon may not last, however. While the resigning Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire has constantly promised that Macron’s party “would not increase taxes”, the option is now being considered by Michel Barnier who, faced with France’s deteriorating financial situation, could call on the richest to contribute.
After 50 days of crisis, can Michel Barnier really bring people together at Matignon?
Neck and neck with the new tenant of Matignon in this popularity barometer, we find Édouard Philippe. If the macronie has not digested his announcement of candidacy for the presidential election in 2027 in the middle of a political crisis at the beginning of September, the former head of government collects 55% of favorable opinions.
Is having been through Matignon a guarantee of being appreciated by voters? The question is open as Gabriel Attal and Jean Castex are both tied for third place among the French people’s favorite political figures.
Macron far behind
However, the two men have chosen two very different political positions. While the thirty-year-old took the lead of the Macronist deputies in the National Assembly last July and could seek to take over Renaissance in the coming months, Jean Castex is playing the withdrawal card and is now devoting himself to the management of the RATP and the FACE foundation.
Emmanuel Macron is far behind in 44th place and only receives 31% of favorable opinions – barely one point more than Catherine Vautrin, the resigning Minister of Labor.
The survey was conducted on a sample of 1,003 people, representative of the French population aged 18 and over. The representativeness of the sample was ensured by the quota method (gender, age, occupation of the head of household, level of education) after stratification by region and category of agglomeration. The interviews were conducted by telephone from September 12 to 14, 2024.
