The September 2026 edition of the Public Figures Barometer first confirms an underlying trend: distrust of politicians remains particularly high. Michel-Édouard Leclerc remains in the lead with a 54% approval rating and is the only figure to exceed 50%. Dominique de Villepin follows at 47%, ahead of Christine Lagarde, Jean-Louis Borloo, Jordan Bardella, and Édouard Philippe, all at 46%. The Leclerc-de Villepin-Lagarde trio—none of whom hold elected office—illustrates the persistent difficulty incumbent politicians face in garnering broad support.
In this fragmented landscape, Jean-Luc Mélenchon continues his upward momentum. With 37% of respondents holding a favorable opinion of him, he ranks 21st—his highest ranking since May 2023. Above all, he is the most popular figure among left-wing supporters, with a 70% approval rating, confirming his central role within his camp. However, this rise is accompanied by strong disapproval: 62% of French people hold an unfavorable opinion of him, including 40% who hold a very unfavorable opinion.
This trend contrasts with that of Raphaël Glucksmann. His favorable rating has dropped 3 points to 31%, and he garners only 37% support among left-wing supporters as a whole. His support base remains more concentrated within the Socialist Party, where he stands at 60%. François Hollande, for his part, remains the highest-rated left-wing figure among the general population, at 45%, despite a 4-point decline. These differences illustrate a left that remains fragmented, with Mélenchon consolidating his base while Glucksmann struggles more to broaden his popularity across the entire left-wing spectrum.
Within the centrist bloc, the race is tightening between Édouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal. Philippe has dropped 2 points to 46%, while Attal has risen by one point to 43%. Only three points now separate them, even though Philippe retains an edge among Renaissance supporters and Macron voters from 2022.
The start of the new political season has also been more difficult for several government figures. Sébastien Lecornu and Gérald Darmanin each lost 4 points, dropping to 43% and 39%, respectively. Darmanin nevertheless remains very well-established on the right, with a 73% approval rating among LR supporters. Bruno Retailleau has also slipped to 37%, though he retains a significant base of support within his own camp.
Finally, several gains indicate that the political landscape remains wide open. David Lisnard posted the biggest gain in this poll (+6, to 31%), while Robert Ménard gained 5 points to reach 41%. Thierry Breton made his debut in the poll at 36%, with a profile more firmly rooted in the centrist and right-wing blocs. Overall, this poll paints a picture of a political landscape that remains highly fragmented, marked by mistrust, a tightening of several power dynamics, and a search for figures less directly associated with the exercise of power.
