New poll underlines Macron’s growing popularity

France’s economy minister Emmanuel Macron has emerged as the favorite Left candidate for the 2017 presidential election, according to a poll conducted by ViaVoice. Macron leads with 38 per cent ahead of Prime Minister Manuel Valls (28 per cent) and Martine Aubry (21 per cent).

According to a poll, Emmanuel Macron (right) has emerged as the favourite Left candidate ahead of President Francois Hollande for next year's presidential elections. AFP PHOTO / LIONEL BONAVENTURE

Interestingly, President François Hollande trails in fourth place at just 11 per cent.
According to the survey, Macron’s popularity has seen a rise by eight points in just over a month and a rise by 17 points since May 2015.

Macron also leads in popularity among supporters of the Left with 15 per cent viewing him as the best candidate among fourteen personalities, to represent the left in the presidential election.

He surged past Martine Aubry (14 per cent), Jean-Luc Mélenchon (12 per cent), Manuel Valls (10 per cent) and François Hollande (7 per cent).

According to the daily Libération, this is the first time that the 38-year-old has become the preferred choice among the supporters of the Left parties.

François Miquet-Marty, director of the institute ViaVoice stated that what works for Macron is the rejection of what’s being offered politically today as well as the weariness towards Nicolas Sarkozy Francois Hollande and Alain Juppé.

Meanwhile, defence minister Jean Yves Le Drian called on Macron to be a team player in the government. Le Drian described France’s economy minister as an intelligent man "who possesses great enthusiasm and someone who likes to be an iconoclast."

He said that being a part of the government is a bit like football. “One must play collectively otherwise the team does not win,” Le Drian said on France Info.

The defence minister also called on President François Hollande to prepare for the fight for the 2017 Presidential elections. 

“He (Hollande) is a statesman who has shown great courage and determination in an extremely difficult period. I think he has demonstrated his ability to act, his capacity to take decisions,” Le Drian said, adding that President Hollande is also recognized and respected around the world.