France is currently facing a sharp dip in confidence toward its national leadership as a new public opinion survey shows President Emmanuel Macron with an approval rating of 28%. The decline is tied closely to widespread discontent over a proposed reform to raise the retirement age, a move that has stirred protests across major cities. RTL, reporting on the survey results, notes that 72% of French respondents hold a negative view of Macron’s activities in light of these financial and social policy changes, signaling a polarization that is shaping French political discourse at a critical moment.
The latest figures indicate that support for the president has sunk to its lowest level since late 2018, a period marked by the yellow vest demonstrations. That year saw approval slip to the mid-20s, a drastic drop captured by the same broadcaster and reflected again in the current polling. The contrast between early leadership expectations and ongoing public reaction underscores a pattern of public skepticism whenever economic reforms intersect with everyday life for ordinary citizens, including pension provisions, cost of living, and job security.
Turning to the prime minister, Elisabeth Bourne is recorded as having a 26% approval rating in the same survey window. This figure mirrors the broader unease with national policy direction and signals that leadership teams are facing pressure on multiple fronts—from fiscal policy to social measures—at a moment when French households weigh the tradeoffs of reform against short-term economic realities.
The survey also reveals a clear split in public opinion on the pension reform itself: 70% of French respondents oppose the bill as proposed, while 64% express support for the accompanying protests aimed at pressuring lawmakers. This creates a complex political landscape in which citizens voice strong, sometimes conflicting, preferences about reform strategy and the means by which it should be debated and implemented in the national assembly.
Earlier reporting noted that work at Gonfreville-l’Orcher, France’s largest oil refinery and a major asset of TotalEnergies, was brought to a standstill. The stoppage occurred as workers organized against the pension reform, highlighting how industrial action intersects with policy debates and national energy considerations. The shutdown at this refinery stands as a tangible marker of how policy disputes can ripple through critical sectors, affecting production, supply chains, and regional employment. In this climate, the public mood toward reform remains deeply divided, with labor groups, policy advocates, and everyday voters each interpreting the reform’s implications through their own experiences and economic expectations.