(07/21/09) -

Sarkozy’s Approval Slides Again in France

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – After a short period of recovery, the popularity of French president Nicolas Sarkozy has dwindled again, according to a poll by Ifop published in Paris Match. 41 per cent of respondents approve of Sarkozy’s performance, down six points since June.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – After a short period of recovery, the popularity of French president Nicolas Sarkozy has dwindled again, according to a poll by Ifop published in Paris Match. 41 per cent of respondents approve of Sarkozy’s performance, down six points since June.

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. 51 per cent of respondents approve of Fillon’s work, down three points in a month.

This month, French senators will discuss a government-backed bill proposed that seeks to relax rules that forbid most shops from operating on Sundays. Current legislation, first approved in 1906, states that Sundays are a day of rest and trading is only allowed in the country’s three largest cities. The bill that would to repel this regulation has already been approved by the lower house of the legislature.

On Jul. 15, Jean-Marc Ayrault, a lawmaker with the opposition Socialist Party (PS), commented on the matter, saying, "We have a real disagreement on this, we are defending the Sunday as a rest day, the only day people can relax with their families, play sports, express their spirituality."

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?

Source: Ifop / Paris Match
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,004 French adults, conducted on Jul. 2 to Jul. 3, 2009. No margin of error was provided.