(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – People in France are almost evenly divided on their opinion of the country’s main political leaders, according to a poll by LH2. 48 per cent of respondents have a positive opinion of French president Nicolas Sarkozy’s performance—up six points since March—while 50 per cent have a negative view of it.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – People in France are almost evenly divided on their opinion of the country’s main political leaders, according to a poll by LH2. 48 per cent of respondents have a positive opinion of French president Nicolas Sarkozy’s performance—up six points since March—while 50 per cent have a negative view of it.
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 François Fillon—who had been his adviser and presidential campaign leader—as prime minister. 52 per cent of respondents hold a positive opinion of Fillon’s performance—up seven points in a month—but 42 per cent hold the opposite view.
Since 2007, defaults on so-called subprime mortgages—credit given to high-risk borrowers—in the U.S. caused volatility in domestic and global financial markets and ultimately pushed the United States economy into a recession. A recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth. The crisis has affected the global financial and credit systems, and triggered layoffs in companies around the world.
Sarkozy’s administration has recently faced street protests against its handling of the economic crisis.
In recent weeks, France has also seen a series of "bossnappings"—the practice of workers retaining their bosses in their company’s buildings in order to call attention to their discontent.
Earlier this month, workers at an auto part factory southwest of Paris held three managers captive for five hours as they pushed for better severance packages for 360 workers. Sarkozy reacted to the news, saying, "What is this business of sequestering people? We have the rule of law, and I will not let matters go on like that."
Polling Data
Do you have a positive or negative opinion of Nicolas Sarkozy’s performance as president?
|
|
Apr. 2009 |
Mar. 2009 |
Feb. 2009 |
|
Positive |
48% |
42% |
44% |
|
Negative |
50% |
55% |
52% |
Do you have a positive or negative opinion of François Fillon’s performance as prime minister?
|
|
Apr. 2009 |
Mar. 2009 |
Feb. 2009 |
|
Positive |
52% |
45% |
49% |
|
Negative |
42% |
50% |
44% |
Source: LH2
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,007 French adults, conducted on Apr. 3 and Apr. 4, 2009. No margin of error was provided.
