A majority of French people see no future in the Barnier government

Distrust sets in towards Michel Barnier. The Prime Minister's popularity rating continues in fact on a downward slope, losing four points in November. Above all, its future seems more uncertain than ever knowing that 53% of French people think that government censorship is desirable, according to polls published Saturday evening.

While 45% of respondents said they were satisfied with Michel Barnier when he took office in September, then 40% in October, they are now only 36% in a tormented budgetary autumn for the executive, according to the Ifop barometer for the Sunday Newspaper.

Emmanuel Macron's rating at 22% satisfied

Among the most dissatisfied categories are workers, but also civil servants (73% each), the unemployed (79%), supporters of La France insoumise (80%) but also of the National Rally (73%, + 4 points) . Emmanuel Macron's rating stagnates, as in October, at 22% satisfied, its lowest level since 2017.

In a difficult social context – between announcements of social plans, farmers' demonstrations and budget cuts – 53% of French people surveyed say they would like to see the government fall, according to an Ipsos study for La Tribune Sunday. Supporters of La France insoumise (88%), the Socialist Party (73%) and the National Rally (67%) are the most likely to see a motion of censure succeed.

Divergent solutions

But, like a particularly fragmented National Assembly, the results divide the people surveyed into three blocks. The first (29%) would be ready to reappoint Michel Barnier at the head of a new government; the second (33%) pleads for appointing a new Prime Minister from the ranks of the political parties constituting the “common base”, which supports the current government of Michel Barnier; and the third (38%) would like to see a Prime Minister from the New Popular Front, bringing together left-wing political parties, appointed.