France faces record debt and historic low for Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron has reached a historic low in public approval, with a recent Odoxa and Mascaret barometer showing only 18 percent of citizens view his work favorably. Dissatisfaction is driven largely by rising fuel prices and the cost of living.

Simultaneously, France is facing a fiscal crisis as its public debt has reached a record 119 percent of GDP. Projections suggest the debt could rise further to nearly 122 percent of GDP, exceeding European Union spending limits despite proposed consumption cuts totaling 54 billion euros.

These economic and political pressures are shaping the landscape ahead of future elections. Political figures are offering diverging solutions: radical left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon has proposed canceling state bonds held by the European Central Bank to fund public investment, while right-wing leaders, including Marine Le Pen, advocate for structural reforms to stabilize public finances.