David Lisnard, the mayor of Cannes and leader of Nouvelle Énergie, has emerged as one of the fastest-rising figures on the French right, according to the latest Le Point/Cluster 17 monthly barometer published Monday. The survey, which measures political popularity rather than electoral voting intentions, shows Lisnard achieving the largest monthly gain of any figure in October.
A Meteoric Rise
Lisnard now commands 25% popularity, a six-point increase from September, propelling him from 19th to fifth place in the overall rankings. In doing so, he has overtaken former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe (22%) and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau (24%).
The surge reflects Lisnard’s growing visibility ahead of the 2027 presidential election, where voting intention polls increasingly place him closer to Philippe — a figure who until recently held a commanding lead over him.
Who Leads the Rankings
Despite Lisnard’s ascent, the top of the popularity table remains dominated by established figures:
- Marine Le Pen (Rassemblement National) — 35%
- Jordan Bardella (Rassemblement National) — 32%
- Dominique de Villepin (former prime minister) — 26%
- Jean-Luc Mélenchon (La France Insoumise) — 26%
- David Lisnard (Nouvelle Énergie) — 25%
Mélenchon remains the most popular figure on the left, ahead of Raphaël Glucksmann and François Ruffin, both at 22%.
Macron at Historic Low
At the opposite end of the spectrum, President Emmanuel Macron has fallen to his lowest popularity rating since the barometer’s inception, dropping five points in a month to just 12%. He is now the most rejected figure in the rankings, with 78% of respondents holding an unfavorable view.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu remains relatively better positioned at 23%, though he too has lost three points since September.
The Least Popular Figures
At the bottom of the table, the most unpopular political figures include:
- Christian Estrosi (former LR mayor of Nice) — 10%
- François Bayrou (former prime minister) — 10%
- Laurent Wauquiez (leader of the Republican Right group in the National Assembly) — 11%
- Olivier Faure (Socialist Party leader) — 11%
Implications for 2027
The barometer offers a snapshot of shifting allegiances within the French political landscape as parties begin positioning themselves for the 2027 presidential race. Lisnard’s trajectory suggests growing appetite among right-leaning voters for alternatives to more established figures, while Macron’s historic unpopularity underscores the challenges facing the outgoing majority.
The survey also comes amid broader questions about how primary contests on the center and right will be organized to select a unified candidate — a debate in which Lisnard has called for “clear rules of the game.”
