Macron, worst ever president?

Emmanuel Macron is set to leave the Élysée Palace in eight months, and the criticism he has faced over the past decade has intensified. Once considered the "saviour of Europe" by The Economist, he is now described as a "lame duck" president and the "worst president" of the Fifth Republic by Alain Minc, a liberal elite mouthpiece.

Macron has largely followed the recommendations of previous reports and commissions, stripping French diplomacy of independence and aligning it with other countries' policies. He has transformed the state into an entity that prioritizes private safety and shareholders' dividends, while the social security system no longer aims to provide for citizens' needs.

Unemployment is rising, and growth is stagnant, despite Macron's supply-side strategy being discredited. France's trade deficit remains high, and its carbon footprint is largely generated abroad. The country's firefighters and firefighting aircraft are in short supply, with Macron seemingly unfazed by the situation. As Macron's presidency nears its end, his two main priorities are Ukraine and the erosion of civil liberties.

However, his actions in Ukraine and support for the latter may lead to unintended consequences, such as German rearmament or confrontation with Russia. Five years ago, Marine Le Pen criticized Macron for suppressing freedoms and said he faced a threat to individual freedoms and democracy, yet his actions have only strengthened the far-right.