I‘m a fan of Emmanuel Macron, but the French president needs to get real about his nation’s economic woes. Absent much bolder action, his approval ratings and political future will continue to plummet.

The concern is newly relevant in light of Macron’s recent showdown with a job seeker who complained that he could not find work. Macron responded by telling the man that he should go to an entertainment center in Paris and apply for work as a waiter.