France: Macron approval hits record low amid fuel crisis and debt

Emmanuel Macron fuel crisis public debt approval ratings French politics

French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu are facing record-low approval ratings amid a worsening fuel crisis and rising cost of living. An Odoxa-Mascaret poll indicates Macron's popularity has plummeted to 18 percent, while Lecornu's support has fallen to 24 percent. The decline is largely attributed to public dissatisfaction with government measures to address soaring fuel prices, with 75 percent of respondents viewing current assistance for frequent drivers as insufficient.

Compounding the political crisis is France's deteriorating economic position. According to Insee, the nation's public debt reached 3,595.5 billion euros, representing 119 percent of GDP at the end of the second quarter of 2026. Projections suggest the debt-to-GDP ratio could reach 121.7 percent by 2027. To manage this, the Agence France Trésor anticipates the state will need to borrow a record 340 billion euros on financial markets in 2027 to refinance existing debt and cover deficits.

Entities

Emmanuel Macron · France · INSEE · Marine Le Pen · National Rally · Odoxa · Odoxa-Mascaret · Renaissance · Sébastien Lecornu

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] The French state is expected to borrow a record 340 billion euros in 2027. www.presse-citron.net
[● 13 SOURCES] Emmanuel Macron's approval rating has dropped to 18 percent. nemosnewsnetwork.com · atvbl.rs · www.24matins.fr · www.dna.fr · a1on.mk · +8 more
[● 13 SOURCES] 75 percent of respondents consider government fuel assistance for frequent drivers to be insufficient. nemosnewsnetwork.com · atvbl.rs · www.24matins.fr · www.dna.fr · a1on.mk · +8 more
[○ 1 SOURCE] France's public debt reached 3,595.5 billion euros, or 119 percent of GDP, at the end of Q2 2026. www.presse-citron.net
[● 13 SOURCES] Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's approval rating fell to 24 percent. nemosnewsnetwork.com · atvbl.rs · www.24matins.fr · www.dna.fr · a1on.mk · +8 more