Macron’s Declining Fortunes: New Poll Reveals Widespread Voter Remorse

52% of voters who supported Emmanuel Macron in the Presidential Election in 2022 now say they regret their vote. That number represents a dramatic decline in public support for a leader once celebrated as a progressive reformer. Perhaps even more telling, regret is especially strong among two important demographic blocs: 55% of women who voted for Macron and a stunning 59% of those aged 25–34 said they would change their vote. Set against a backdrop of turbulent pension reforms and wider socio-economic troubles, the figures point to a deep crisis of confidence in Macron’s government.

One of the main causes of this disillusionment has been the controversial overhaul of France’s pension system that has provoked mass protests, strikes and even international headlines calling France a “nation on edge.” Public transit came to a near standstill in parts of the country, and anger on the streets surged, with protesters clashing with police. Although Macron originally cast the pension reforms as a tough but necessary step to reinforce France’s long-term economic outlook, critics say the President did not convey that message well or demonstrate an understanding of those hit hardest. Many of the same voters who placed their trust in him now feel blindsided by policies they perceive as elitist or disconnected from everyday concerns.

Compounding that tension are rising living expenses and inflationary pressures that have stretched France’s middle class and young adults thin. Headlines about unaffordable housing, spiralling energy bills, and stagnant wages have hit young voters especially hard.

Female voters, for their part, have accused Macron’s administration of overlooking gender specific policy measures in the workplace. As the pension debate underscored that older workers, particularly women, could shoulder an outsised burden. Many who once saw Macron as a crusader for equality have become disenchanted. Fifty-five percent of women who voted for him say they now regret doing so.

These policy blunders and messaging miscues have been a drag on Macron’s personal image. While charisma and likeability are difficult-to-define traits in politics, they shape — for better or worse — the way voters evaluate a leader’s decisions. Our poll data shows that 59 percent of French voters now say that Emmanuel Macron is “simply not a likeable figure.” With each fresh controversy, that perception gap has widened.

Download the data tables for this poll.