The monthly barometer of the French Institute of Public Opinion (IFOP), published by Le Journal du Dimanche, stated that Macron is approaching the 13 percent approval rating reached by his predecessor, former President Francois Hollande (2012-2017), of the Socialist Party (PS), who holds the record for unpopularity in these polls.

Regarding disapproval of the president’s performance, this rose to 56 percent.

IFOP Director General Frederic Dabi believes that Macron’s low approval rating is beginning to “contaminate” other political figures in his inner circle, particularly Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu.

The survey shows Lecornu with a 34 percent satisfaction rating among 2,000 people polled during the week that is about to end, four points lower than in October.

France continues to be marked by acute political crises and polarization, which in less than a year have seen four prime ministers come and go from the Hotel de Matignon: conservative Michel Barnier, ousted in December; centrist Francois Bayrou, ousted in September; and Lecornu twice, as he resigned in October and Macron reappointed him a few days later.

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