Emmanuel Macron's Popularity Declines to Near Historic Lows in January 2026 Polling

Emmanuel Macron begins 2026 facing a significant drop in his confidence rating, which has fallen to 16%, marking the second-lowest level since his presidency began in 2017, according to a January 2026 poll by Elabe for Les Échos. The survey reveals widespread distrust, with 79% of French citizens expressing a lack of trust in Macron's ability to address the country's challenges, including 54% who say they have no trust in him at all. This high level of distrust is close to the peak seen in October 2025.

Macron’s support, while stable at 48% among his own first-round electorate, has considerably dropped among voters of other political figures—falling 12 points to 7% among Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s supporters and 4 points to 4% among Marine Le Pen’s supporters. Additionally, trust among abstentionists is low, standing at 12%. The president's confidence rating has notably decreased among socio-professional groups such as executives, dropping 7 points to 18%. However, younger voters under 25 exhibit relatively more favorable opinions, with a 26% confidence rate. Residents of the Île-de-France region show a marked decline, with trust falling 7 points to 19%.

In contrast, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s confidence rating has risen to 24%, an increase of 4 points, surpassing Macron’s by 8 points. Lecornu enjoys strong support among Macron’s electorate, with 60% expressing trust in him, a figure 14 points higher than Macron’s rating. His support has also increased among retirees, reaching 33%.

Jordan Bardella continues to top popularity rankings at 39%, followed closely by Marine Le Pen at 34%. Other political figures such as Édouard Philippe, Gabriel Attal, Gérald Darmanin, and Bruno Retailleau have experienced slight gains in public confidence. Overall, the poll indicates a notable shift in the French political landscape, reflecting a decline in confidence in Macron amid growing trust in other political leaders as 2026 begins.