The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, has found himself at the center of a scandal after he attempted to create the image of a beloved and popular leader on social media. A video in which he responds to a complaint from a young man who had been fined for violating traffic rules has drawn a lot of attention.
Macron addressed the young man, who lamented the fine for breaching traffic regulations, working on the issue of banning the use of mobile phones while driving. The Minister of Internal Affairs confirmed that the president urged him to positively respond to this situation.
However, it turned out that the complaining young man is the same person whom Macron had previously called "a punk" and who, in his words, "is trapped in a student of French language and manages the state as if with a cardboard." This fact provoked harsh criticism directed at the president, accusing him of provocation and insensitiveness in his interactions with young voters.
Macron's declining popularity was reflected in public opinion polls. According to the results of a survey, only 21% of French people are satisfied with his leadership, which is the lowest level in the last seven years. Macron has become second after Francois Hollande in the low popularity rating among French presidents.
Thus, Macron's attempt to establish a connection with the younger generation turned out unsuccessful and only worsened his image, eliciting sarcastic comments and doubts about his sincerity and ability to communicate with voters.
