Macron’s Approval Surges in Poll Amid His Support for Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron's approval rating has reached its highest level since June after he began actively promoting European initiatives to support Ukraine.
According to Bloomberg, citing an Ifop poll for Ouest-France, Macron's popularity rose to 31% in March, up seven points from February and almost matching the level before last year's early parliamentary elections. At the same time, support for Prime Minister François Bayrou has dropped by five points to 34%.
It is noted that Macron's position has improved after he became a key figure in European efforts to increase defence spending and support for Ukraine amid a reduction in US aid. He also proposed to start negotiations on the possibility of using French nuclear capabilities to protect allies in Europe.
According to the survey, 53% of respondents expressed concern about the international situation related to Ukraine, while 84% believe that peace talks are impossible without Kyiv's participation.
The level of satisfaction with Macron among the elderly, pensioners and office workers - his main supporters - increased by two points. The survey involved 1,500 adults.
The French president's popularity has declined since he called early elections last summer, which led to deep divisions in the National Assembly.
As The Gaze previously reported, on 5 March, French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the nation amid global uncertainty over the radical change in US policy towards Ukraine. He stressed that the threat from Russia extends to the whole of Europe and ‘this is not just a Russian-Ukrainian conflict, it is an international conflict’.
The French president also wants to start a debate on expanding France's nuclear deterrent to protect its allies on the European continent.