(Bloomberg) — French Prime Minister Michel Barnier has a higher approval rating than President Emmanuel Macron as he works to form a new government, according to a poll by Ipsos.
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The survey published in La Tribune newspaper showed 34% of respondents are satisfied with Barnier. This compares with 30% for Macron, up 2 points from June when he unexpectedly called a snap election that resulted in a hung parliament and months of political paralysis.
The opinion poll also found 32% of those surveyed would be in favor of far-right National Rally leaders Marine Le Pen or Jordan Bardella becoming president in 2027, edging out former prime ministers Gabriel Attal and Edouard Philippe, who both stood at 31%. Respondents were the most against the idea of leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon or far-right Eric Zemmour becoming president.
France’s legislative election left no group with a majority in the National Assembly. Barnier was appointed this month and is attempting to form a government that may depend on Le Pen to survive. On Saturday she called for a fresh vote within a year, saying the current situation “can’t hold.”
The Ipsos survey of 1,000 people was conducted over the internet between Sept. 11-13. The pollsters didn’t provide a margin of error but said the results were 95% reliable.
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David Turner is a globe-trotting journalist who brings a global perspective to our readers. With a commitment to shedding light on international events, he explores complex geopolitical issues, offering a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
