Macron's Popularity Declines as Lecornu Survives Political Turmoil Over 2026 Budget

President Emmanuel Macron’s popularity has sharply declined, reaching a historic low with only 18% approval and a striking 79% disapproval rating, according to the January 2026 Ipsos bva-CESI political barometer. This drop is notably marked among supporters of Macron’s own parties Renaissance, Modem, and Horizons, who have registered a 10-point decrease in approval.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has faced significant political challenges amidst the parliamentary debate on the 2026 state budget. After controversially invoking Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to bypass parliamentary approval and expedite the budget passage, Lecornu faced two motions of censure brought by the far-left La France Insoumise (LFI) and the far-right Rassemblement National (RN).

Despite substantial opposition, Lecornu successfully survived these motions, with the first motion garnering 269 votes in favor—short of the 288 needed to bring down the government—and the second motion receiving 142 votes. Lecornu defended his use of Article 49.3 as a "last resort" to break a political deadlock and emphasized the imperative to "know how to finish a political crisis." He highlighted that the budget is a compromise essential for stability and warned against routine use of such an extreme legislative mechanism.

Amélie de Montchalin, Minister of Action and Public Accounts, described the budget as the product of difficult concessions necessary to secure €50 billion in investments for France.

In this turbulent political context, Jordan Bardella of the RN leads the public's satisfaction ratings among potential 2027 presidential candidates with 35%, with Marine Le Pen and Marion Maréchal also maintaining strong profiles. Public concerns remain centered around purchasing power, though it has slightly decreased to 42%, alongside worries over social system sustainability and crime.

Gérald Darmanin remains the government’s most popular minister with 41% approval, while Lecornu’s approval stable at 29%, contrasting with Macron’s severe unpopularity. The political crisis over the budget underscores deep divisions and the challenges awaiting France’s leaders ahead of the 2027 presidential election.