Emmanuel Macron’s popularity rating crashed below the symbolic 20 per cent mark for the first time today as he predicted “major violence” this weekend.
The embattled French president is trapped in a law-and-order crisis as thousands of so-called Yellow Vest protesters continue to demonstrate against his administration.
There was widespread rioting in Paris last Saturday, with national monuments including the Arc de Triomphe vandalised.
More than 400 people were arrested.
Now a spokesman for Mr Macron, speaking about further planned protests on Saturday, has told AFP, France’s national news agency: “We have reason to fear a great violence.”
Despite a humiliating government U-turn on proposed green taxes on fuels, the Yellow Vests — named after the hi-vis jackets that all motorists have to carry in France — sense they can achieve more.
Originally they called for a reduction in the price of diesel and petrol; now disgruntled groups from Left and Right, including students and emergency workers, have joined the campaign.
Mr Macron’s rating has dropped three points to 18 per cent, the third consecutive monthly drop, according to a poll by YouGov for France’s HuffPost and Cnews outlets.
It was conducted the day before last Saturday’s riots.
