Macron’s popularity hits record low as protests sweep France

France’s president Emmanuel Macron saw his approval rating slip to 17%, a record low, according to the latest Ifop poll conducted for Le Journal du Dimanche. The finding comes as nearly one million workers and anti-austerity demonstrators took to streets across the country to protest his handling of the economy and government budget plans.

Across Paris and other major cities, demonstrations quickly grew tense, with clashes between police and protesters reported in multiple locations. Images from the streets showed officers in riot gear moving to disperse crowds, and protesters lighting fires outside key sites such as the Gare du Nord railway station as tear gas filled the air. In Marseille, Lyon, Nantes and elsewhere, protesters wearing masks and carrying banners opposing budget cuts clashed with security forces, while some demonstrators waved red flares in front of armored police near the entrances of schools like the Lycee Maurice Ravel.

The protests occurred amid a volatile political moment. A week earlier, Sébastien Lecornu was named prime minister following the collapse of the government led by Francois Bayrou. Unions have pressed for higher spending on public services, higher taxes on the wealthy, and the reversal of the budget-cut plans associated with the Bayrou administration.

The demonstrations were part of what officials have termed a broader wave of unrest over domestic policy and fiscal strategy. The Interior Ministry estimated that between 600,000 and 900,000 people took to the streets nationwide, with a command of resources and tactics by police aimed at containing demonstrations. By Thursday, officials had reported 94 arrests nationwide, including 15 in Paris, amid what was described as a coordinated campaign of strikes and street protests dubbed by organizers as Black Thursday and linked to earlier actions under a broader protest movement.

For Macron, the day underscored a recurring political challenge: years of upheaval since the Yellow Vest movement in 2018 and renewed protests over pension reform in 2023, which have repeatedly tested his mandate. The president’s decision last year to seek a strong majority ahead of the Paris Olympics by calling a snap election backfired, resulting in a hung parliament that has complicated the government’s ability to push through sweeping reforms.

Economically, France faces a fragile fiscal path. The deficit last year rose to 5.8% of GDP, far above the EU’s 3% maximum and the largest deficit the country has recorded since the end of World War II. The rise reflects a combination of pandemic-era spending, a European energy crisis and high global interest rates, alongside structural challenges in debt management.

Amid the political and economic pressure, some economists have proposed alternative ways to address France’s debt and inequality. Gabriel Zucman, the French economist after whom a proposed wealth tax is named, has argued for a 2% annual wealth tax on fortunes exceeding €100 million, suggesting it could raise tens of billions of euros to fund public services. Supporters say such a measure could help address inequality and fund essential services, while critics caution about potential capital flight and practical implementation questions.

The current moment leaves Macron confronting a volatile political landscape as France grapples with debt, growth, and social cohesion. While his government has sought to navigate a path between limited legislative room and mounting public discontent, the public mood appears markedly constrained, with polling data reflecting deep skepticism about the administration’s handling of austerity and revenue policies. As protests continue to unfold and the economy adjusts to global pressures, observers say the coming months will test the government’s ability to balance fiscal responsibility with demands for stronger public services and a fairer tax system.