Macron and Merz's Popularity Collapses to Historic Lows

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are facing high rejection figures in their respective countries, according to recent polls.

In France, Macron reached only 16% favorable opinions, his lowest level since being elected. He lost 5 points compared to July and accumulates 81% unfavorable opinions, according to the Ipsos-BVA-CESI barometer for La Tribune Dimanche.

"Emmanuel Macron reaches the level of François Hollande. Weariness is at its maximum," said Brice Teinturier, deputy CEO of Ipsos-BVA, attributing the collapse to budgetary difficulties, the drop in purchasing power, and general dysfunctions.

The approval rating of his prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, also fell to 20%.

Meanwhile, only 14% of Germans consider Merz a suitable chancellor, according to a poll by the INSA institute for Bild. Merz's popularity has plummeted from mid-2025, when more than 30% expressed satisfaction with his work, to just 16% in early September of this year.

78% of participants responded negatively to the question of whether Merz remains a suitable chancellor for Germany. Even 58% of supporters of the CDU and CSU—the governing union—spoke out against him, with only 36% in his favor.

Additionally, in France, discontent is growing toward all tested presidential candidates, including Jean-Luc Mélenchon (70% rejection), Marine Le Pen (52%), and Gabriel Attal (60%).

In Germany, CSU leader Markus Söder leads preferences with 31%, followed by Hendrik Wüst (20%) and Alexander Dobrindt (13%).