Just over three months after his historic election, French President Emmanuel Macron is experiencing a dramatic fall in approval ratings, the fastest for any French leader since 1995. An Ifop poll published on Sunday shows his satisfaction rating has dropped to 40%, with 57% dissatisfied, as he prepares for a showdown with unions over labour law reform.
Macron, who promised a new kind of politics, has seen his support slide by more than a third since June. Critics accuse him of favouring the wealthy, while plans for tax and benefit cuts have sparked resistance. The president's aloof communication style, which included few press conferences and a ban on off-the-record briefings, has been blamed for the disconnect.
Government spokesman Christophe Castaner acknowledged difficulties but insisted the administration is unfazed by unpopularity. 'Transforming the country is also about being unpopular. We don't mind being unpopular as long as it works,' he told BFM TV.
Macron's team is concerned that the risks of reform may not yield results quickly enough to offset public discontent. With less than a quarter of voters choosing him as first preference, his victory was partly a rejection of far-right candidate Marine Le Pen.
In a shift of strategy, Macron recently gave his first off-the-record interview as head of state, signalling a more accessible approach. As his party commands a parliamentary majority, the battle over reforms will be fought in public opinion, requiring a new war of words from the president.
