France is losing patience with Macron

When the Sunday newspaper, Le Journal Du Dimanche, recently published its annual list of France’s fifty most popular personalities, politicians barely got a look in. Only two made the cut: Emmanuel Macron, at number 35, and Marine Le Pen, at 48. When the list was first published in 1988 the president of France was François Mitterrand, ranked third, one of fifteen political figures that year. 

Frédéric Dabi, the head of IFOP, the polling company responsible for the annual list, explained that its changing composition was telling. ‘It is a reflection of the society’s mistrust towards its politicians,’ he said, noting that conversely admiration for scientists, sports stars and comedians had increased over the years.  

‘It has to be said we are in an unprecedented era of pessimism,’ remarked Dabi. Asked if he detected the same groundswell of unrest that preceded the Yellow Vest movement of 2017/18, Dabi replied that the despair was greater because of the dire economic situation. 

Every day the media report on the ramifications of the soaring energy costs, the small businesses struggling to survive as the consequences of France’s disastrous energy strategy this century hit home.