Results are essentially unchanged since July.

In May 2007, Sarkozy, candidate for the centre-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) and former interior minister, won the presidential run-off with 53.06 per cent of the vote. Sarkozy appointed Fillon—who had been his adviser and presidential campaign leader—as prime minister.

Earlier this month, Sarkozy launched an anti-crime campaign and a crackdown on illegal immigration by introducing measures to revoke the French citizenship of immigrants who endanger the lives of police officers, and making it easier to deport people who are in France illegally. The measures target mainly the Roma. The president has explicitly defined "Gipsy camps" as a source of prostitution, trafficking, and child exploitation.

On Aug. 10, Pierre Moscovici, a former minister and currently a lawmaker with the Socialist Party (PS), referred to the controversial campaign, declaring, "We have to get back to talking about social issues, about pensions, jobs, taxes, and not fall for this bait."

Polling Data

Do you have confidence in French president Nicolas Sarkozy to face the country’s problems?

Do you have confidence in French prime minister François Fillon to face the country’s problems?

The French are also increasingly condemning the performance of Prime Minister François Fillon, with 54 per cent of respondents expressing no confidence in him, up five points in a month.

In May 2007, Sarkozy, candidate for the centre-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) and former interior minister, won the presidential run-off with 53.06 per cent of the vote. Sarkozy appointed Fillon—who had been his adviser and presidential campaign leader—as prime minister.

On Jun. 24, thousands of French workers took to the streets to protest against a government proposal to reform the pension system, which would entail raising the retirement age to 62.

Earlier this month, Sarkozy launched an anti-crime campaign and a crackdown on illegal immigration by introducing measures to revoke the French citizenship of immigrants who endanger the lives of police officers, and making it easier to deport people who are in France illegally. The measures target mainly the Roma. The president has explicitly defined "Gipsy camps" as a source of prostitution, trafficking, and child exploitation.

Martine Aubry, leader of the Socialist Party (PS), commented on the measures and their accompanying media campaign, saying they harm "France and its values by selective laws that are as iniquitous as they are unconstitutional," and adding, "We will not let foreigners be stigmatized, nor French people of immigrant descent, nor travellers, as the president of the republic and his majority have shamefully done."

Polling Data

Do you have confidence in French president Nicolas Sarkozy to face the country’s problems?

Do you have confidence in French prime minister François Fillon to face the country’s problems?

In May 2007, Nicolas Sarkozy, candidate for the centre-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) and former interior minister, won the presidential run-off with 53.06 per cent of the vote. Sarkozy appointed François Fillon—who had been his adviser and presidential campaign leader—as prime minister.

On Jun. 16, the French government revealed its proposal to overhaul the national pension system, which includes raising the retirement age from 60 to 62 by 2018 and imposing new levies on capital gains and stock options. The government claims that the system will attain a deficit of $134 billion U.S. by 2050 unless changes are made.

On Jun. 24, hundreds of thousands of workers protested against the proposed changes in various cities. The next day, Fillon said the government is open to discussing the implementation of some reforms but defended the plan’s key elements—such as the raise in the retirement age—saying, "The government will not compromise over the principal aspects of the pension reform."

Polling Data

At a personal level, do you think the proposed pension reform is fair or unfair?

The popularity of French prime minister François Fillon remains stable, at 55 per cent.

In May 2007, Sarkozy, candidate for the centre-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) and former interior minister, won the presidential run-off with 53.06 per cent of the vote. Sarkozy appointed Fillon—who had been his adviser and presidential campaign leader—as prime minister.

On Jun. 24, thousands of French workers took to the streets to protest against a government proposal to reform the pension system, which would entail raising the retirement age to 62.

Bernard Thibault, leader of the large CGT workers’ union, declared: "This draft bill will not get passed in its current form. The workers have decided to take to the streets in large numbers to prevent the text from getting passed."

Polling Data

Do you approve or disapprove of Nicolas Sarkozy’s performance as president?

Do you approve or disapprove of François Fillon’s performance as prime minister?

Appointed prime minister François Fillon holds better ratings, with 54 per cent of respondents saying they approve of his work.

In May 2007, Sarkozy, candidate for the centre-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) and former interior minister, won the presidential run-off with 53.06 per cent of the vote. Sarkozy appointed Fillon—who had been his adviser and presidential campaign leader—as prime minister.

Earlier this month, Sarkozy suggested that his government might scrap the so-called "fiscal shield" law, which caps taxation at half of the incomes of people in the wealthiest bracket of the population. The Sarkozy administration had introduced the law in 2007.

UMP leader Jean-Francois Cope commented on the matter, declaring, "The fiscal shield isn’t dead, it’s just wounded, and it’s a wound in the right direction."

Polling Data

Do you approve or disapprove of Nicolas Sarkozy’s performance as president?

Do you approve or disapprove of François Fillon’s performance as prime minister?

In addition, 44 per cent of respondents have confidence in French prime minister François Fillon, up six points in a month.

In May 2007, Sarkozy, candidate for the centre-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) and former interior minister, won the presidential run-off with 53.06 per cent of the vote. Sarkozy appointed Fillon—who had been his adviser and presidential campaign leader—as prime minister.

Last month, Sarkozy discussed the global financial crisis, saying, "France’s belief is that it is totally unproductive to make accusations against one another. It is far more intelligent to prepare the necessary evolution of the monetary system in the 21st century."

Polling Data

Do you have confidence in French president Nicolas Sarkozy to face the country’s problems?

Do you have confidence in French prime minister François Fillon to face the country’s problems?

The approval rating for French prime minister François Fillon stands at 52 per cent, down two points in a month.

In May 2007, Sarkozy, candidate for the centre-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) and former interior minister, won the presidential run-off with 53.06 per cent of the vote. Sarkozy appointed Fillon—who had been his adviser and presidential campaign leader—as prime minister.

On Mar. 29, during a visit to the United States, Sarkozy outlined his views on the global financial crisis, saying, "World economic regulation can no longer stand still. (…) A few hundred irresponsible hotheads did mad things on the stock market, with derivatives, with other people’s money. Do you think we can defend capitalism (…) when there is so much injustice? I don’t think so because it is impossible to defend."

Polling Data

Do you approve or disapprove of Nicolas Sarkozy’s performance as president?

Do you approve or disapprove of François Fillon’s performance as prime minister?

In addition, 38 per cent of respondents have confidence in French prime minister François Fillon, down four points in a month.

In May 2007, Sarkozy, candidate for the centre-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) and former interior minister, won the presidential run-off with 53.06 per cent of the vote. Sarkozy appointed Fillon—who had been his adviser and presidential campaign leader—as prime minister.

On Apr. 20, Fillon defended the government’s proposed ban on wearing the Islamic full veil, saying, "We’re ready to take the legal risks because we think the game is worth the candle."

Polling Data

Do you have confidence in French president Nicolas Sarkozy to face the country’s problems?

Do you have confidence in French prime minister François Fillon to face the country’s problems?

The popularity of French prime minister François Fillon is also down three points to 47 per cent.

In May 2007, Sarkozy, candidate for the centre-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) and former interior minister, won the presidential run-off with 53.06 per cent of the vote. Sarkozy appointed Fillon—who had been his adviser and presidential campaign leader—as prime minister.

On Mar. 29, during a visit to the United States, Sarkozy asked for the country’s collaboration in drawing new rules for the global financial system, declaring, "The world economic regulations cannot go on as they are. We can’t accept a capitalist system without rules anymore." Sarkozy added that the lack of rules "will be the death of capitalism."

Polling Data

Do you have a positive or negative opinion of Nicolas Sarkozy’s performance as president?

Do you have a positive or negative opinion of François Fillon’s performance as prime minister?

The approval rating of Sarkozy’s appointed prime minister, François Fillon, remains stable at 54 per cent.

In May 2007, Sarkozy, candidate for the centre-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) and former interior minister, won the presidential run-off with 53.06 per cent of the vote. Sarkozy appointed Fillon—who had been his adviser and presidential campaign leader—as prime minister.

In September 2009, Sarkozy defended a proposal to put a levy on carbon, calling it a flagship of his green credentials and an essential tool to "save the human race" from climate change.

On Mar. 23, following a poor performance by Sarkozy’s UMP in local elections, the government said it would abandon plans to introduce a carbon tax. Fillon made the announcement, declaring, "We have to amplify measures that help reinforce the competitiveness of our economy."

Polling Data

Do you approve or disapprove of Nicolas Sarkozy’s performance as president?

Do you approve or disapprove of François Fillon’s performance as prime minister?