The approval ratings of Emmanuel Macron, the French president, have rebounded as support wanes for the anti-government “yellow vest” protest movement, an opinion poll indicated on Monday.

Mr Macron is now seen as a “good president” by 32 per cent of the French, the Odoxa survey suggested. This means his popularity has recovered to the same level as before the protests started in November.

A majority of French people — some 55 per cent — now want the often violent protests to stop, according to the poll.

Another survey earlier this month indicated that 58 per cent of French people want an end to the protests which have been held for 15 consecutive Saturdays. They have caused tens of millions of pounds worth of damage to public infrastructure and huge losses for retailers as shoppers avoid city centres.

At the start of the protests, more than 80 per cent of the public backed them, posing the biggest challenge to Mr Macron since he took office in 2017. His approval ratings then slumped, but many people have since reassessed both the president and the yellow vests.

The protests began over fuel taxes and the high cost of living but the leaderless movement has since widened into a more general revolt against a political class seen as out of touch with common people. Protesters are particularly angry with the 41-year-old president, a former investment banker, and oppose his pro-business reforms.