Macron does worse than Hollande. It seemed like an impossible undertaking, and probably the judgment is ungenerous given that the new French president, the youngest ever (he is less than 40 years old), immediately tackled international issues with determination, and launched the long series of reforms promised in the electoral campaign, starting with that of work and the so-called "moralization" of public life, a sort of law on conflict of interest, already approved at the end of July.
Despite this, according to an Ifop survey, French citizens have rejected Macron's first 100 days at the Elysée: 64% of the interviewees, or almost two out of three, said they were unhappy, while Hollande – who at the end of his mandate then fell to an all-time low in terms of popular approval – was not to the liking of 54% of his fellow citizens.
Government spokesman Christophe Castaner took stock of the first 100 days of the new presidency on Facebook, listing Macron's first successes: the defense of the COP21 climate agreements, the strengthening of anti-terrorism measures, an "unprecedented" renewal of the National Assembly, the French Chamber, with an average age that has dropped significantly.
However, difficulties were not lacking, as highlighted by part of the transalpine press. To keep the first three great promises (labour code, for which the government proceeded by decree, moralisation of public life and the fight against terror), compromises were necessary which have already led to resignation of four executive ministers which was formed not even two months ago.
And then there was the small big own goal of the reduction of the subsidy for housing, which was cut by a few euros and which according to many justifies, above all on a symbolic level, the fact that only 36% of the French are satisfied with Macron's first three months, while at the beginning of his mandate they were 62%.
After the summer break, which Macron managed in the most reserved way possible, away from the paparazzi who instead put Nicolas Sarkozy in great crisis during his luxurious holidays, the young president is expected to challenge the 2018 budget law but also of the pension reform, which will be approved by January, and of support for unemployment, one of the more "leftist" measures promised in the electoral campaign.
If these reforms were to pass painlessly, Macron's popularity could benefit from them: in the meantime, however, it will be a high-voltage September for him, with two large demonstrations already announced for 12 and 23 September, to protest against the labor reform. Before this battle, there will also be room for an international window, with the meetings already scheduled for the end of August with Angela Merkel, Paolo Gentiloni and Mariano Rajoy.
