Somber, genuinely moved and attuned to the mood of the people, President Francois Hollande is set for a popularity boost after getting rare top marks from local media and analysts for his handling of France's worst attacks in decades. But there is no guarantee this will last.
Leading over 1 million people and dozens of world leaders in Paris to mourn victims of attackers who were swiftly tracked down and killed, he answered two recurrent criticisms leveled against him: weak leadership and distance from voters.
A survey by OpinionWay pollsters, carried out for the most part after the Jan. 7 massacre' of 12 people at Charlie Hebdo, showed his approval rating at 25 percent — a rise of 4 points for the most unpopular president in polling history.