  In this paper we present the most complete description as possible of the
factorization of the general polar of the general member of an equisingularity
class of irreducible germs of complex plane curves. Our result will refine the
rough description of the factorization given by M. Merle in the 70's and it is
based on a result given by E. Casas-Alvero in the 90's that describes the
cluster of the singularities of such polars. By using our analysis, it will be
possible to characterize all equisingularity classes of irreducible plane germs
with r characteristic exponents having the exceptional behavior that the
general polar of a general curve in this equisingularity class has only
irreducible components with less than r characteristic exponents, generalizing
a result previously obtained for r=2 by the authors.
