The leaders of Europe's three largest economies are facing unprecedented unpopularity, with polling data showing deep public discontent across the continent. In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has an approval rating of just 27%, with 65% disapproving, according to Statista. Only 11% of Britons believe he has been a good or great prime minister, while nearly 60% view him as poor or terrible, per YouGov.
France's President Emmanuel Macron fares even worse, with 18% approval and 75% disapproval. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has the lowest ratings of the three, at 19% approval and 76% disapproval. All three leaders are regarded by their citizens with something close to contempt, according to polling experts.
The trend extends beyond major economies. Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker is seen as ineffective, while Norway's Jonas Gahr Støre and Belgium's Bart de Wever also face high disapproval ratings due to scandals and unpopular austerity measures. Even US President Donald Trump, at 38% approval, rates higher than many European leaders.
Peter Matuschek, head of German polling thinktank Forsa, attributes the crisis to a lack of capable politicians. He notes that Merz's error-strewn pronouncements and broken promises have worsened his numbers, while Macron has been hamstrung by a lack of parliamentary majority since 2022. Structural issues, such as Europe's declining share of global economic output, may also be driving voter frustration.
