Polls reveal how the French government crisis has deepened public distrust of political leaders

President Emmanuel Macron et Sébastien Lecornu, then defense minister, in Paris, March 26 2025. JULIEN MUGUET FOR LE MONDE

December 2024: The government led by Michel Barnier was on the verge of collapse, and 12th annual "French Fractures" survey depicted France as anxious, pessimistic and dissatisfied with its leaders. Since then, 11 months have passed, Barnier's successor, François Bayrou, has also fallen, and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is now making precarious maneuvers in Parliament to try to avoid being ousted. The political crisis has dragged on, fueling distrust amid an economic context that has been tough on most households, according to the latest large-scale survey, conducted by Ipsos for Le Monde, the Center for Political Research (CEVIPOF) Sciences Po, the Jean Jaurès Foundation and the Montaigne Institute.

While respondents' distrust related to all of the political class, President Emmanuel Macron stands out as having lost the most popularity over the past year: 58% of respondents said they wanted him to resign, up from 52% in 2024. Notably, at a time when the president is forced to focus on his "reserved domain" of foreign policy, nearly two-thirds of respondents (65%) said they did not trust him to protect France from the risk of war, which four in 10 considered to be a significant risk.