(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most people in France are not impressed with the visit of Libyan de facto leader Muammar Gaddafi to their country, according to a poll by CSA published by Le Parisien. 61 per cent of respondents disapprove of Gaddafi’s official trip to France.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most people in France are not impressed with the visit of Libyan de facto leader Muammar Gaddafi to their country, according to a poll by CSA published by Le Parisien. 61 per cent of respondents disapprove of Gaddafi’s official trip to France.
In May, Nicolas Sarkozy, a centre-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) candidate 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.
Gaddafi has been Libya’s de facto leader since 1969. For decades, he was a vocal and economic supporter of international terrorism. Libya has not allowed political parties since 1972.
In July, Sarkozy helped liberate a Palestinian medical intern and five Bulgarian nurses who had been sentenced to death in a Libyan court. The six defendants were accused of deliberately infecting more than 400 children with HIV at the El-Fath Children’s Hospital, and claimed to have been tortured before agreeing to sign confessions written in Arabic.
The liberation was followed by a controversial arms deal between France and Libya, and the offering of French nuclear technology—to be used in a de-salination project—for the African country.
On Dec. 10, Sarkozy greeted Gaddafi at the beginning of his five-day tour in France, saying, "Today, France is welcoming a head of state that decided definitely to renounce weapons of mass destruction (…) and terrorism." The French president also offered his support for Libya to become an active participant in global affairs, declaring, "It is my deepest conviction that France must speak with all those who want to be integrated in the international community."
On Dec. 12, Sarkozy pledged over $14 billion U.S. in deals with Libya, which include the sale of fighter jets and nuclear reactors. U.S. state department spokesman Kurtis Cooper dismissed concerns about the deal, declaring, "In light of Libya’s historic decision in 2003 to rid itself of its WMD programs, we expect any cooperation with Libya on a peaceful secure and responsible use of nuclear power to be consistent with the highest standard of non-proliferation."
Polling Data
Do you personally approve or disapprove of Muammar Gaddafi’s official visit to France?
|
Approve |
38% |
|
Disapprove |
61% |
Source: CSA / Le Parisien
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 960 French adults, conducted on Dec. 5 and Dec. 6, 2007. No margin of error was provided.
