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PARIS (Reuters) – Emmanuel Macron's popularity has been gaining popularity in recent weeks, according to a poll on Sunday, as fuel tax protests erupted across France, a sign of discontent with President's economic reforms.
A man wearing a yellow vest, symbol of the protest of French drivers against the rise in the price of gasoline, attends the demonstration with an image of French President Emmanuel Macron, in Paris (France), November 17, 2018. REUTERS / Charles Platiau
Only 25% of people polled in an Ifop survey between November 9th and 17th said they were satisfied with Macron, compared with 29% in October, according to a survey of nearly 2,000 people published in the Journal du Dimanche (JDD ).
Macron, which came to power 18 months ago, promising to reshape the economy and revamp its institutions, has been striving to reduce the ratings that collapsed to carry out a series of reforms, including a relaxation of the hiring and firing laws.
His government introduced petrol tax increases to encourage motorists to adopt cleaner cars, particularly affecting rural voters, with the additional cost beginning to be felt in October when the world price of petrol became cheaper. oil climbed.
Angry motorists and other protesters, many accusing Macron of not being in contact with ordinary people, blocked Saturday roads across France as part of a popular campaign called the "Yellow Vests" that drew nearly 288,000 protesters.
More than 400 people were injured, 14 of them seriously, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said, as frustrated drivers tried to get around the blockade. At least 157 people were arrested by the police.
A protester died after being accidentally hit by a panicked driver during a blockade.
Some have held protests on the highway bridges, tolls and roundabouts on Sunday.
In another Ifop poll in the JDD on Sunday, 62 percent of respondents said the government should prioritize policies to help household incomes, even if that meant slower progress in addressing climate change.
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who said Sunday that he was sensitive to the feeling of abandonment expressed by some protesters, pointed out that the government would not back down on its gas tax plans.
These are planned for another hike in January, especially on diesel, the most used fuel in France.
"The path we are committed to is good and we will stick to it," said Philippe on French television. He added that workers would ultimately have less tax burden by the end of Macron's term. Some measures have already been implemented this year, such as the reduction of the housing tax bill.
Macron's popularity has dropped to 21% in other polls recently, after a scorching summer marked by a scandal over the violent conduct of his former security advisor and the departure of several ministers.
In another opinion poll released Sunday by OpinionWay, Macron's approval ratings remained unchanged in November from a month earlier, at 29%.
Report by Sarah White and Sophie Louet; Edited by Dale Hudson and David Evans
