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Sarkozy Extends Lead Over Royal in France
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Nicolas Sarkozy remains the top contender in France's presidential race, according to a poll by Ipsos published in Le Point. 32 per cent of respondents would support the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) candidate in this year's ballot.
Ségolène Royal of the Socialist Party (PS) is second with 29 per cent, followed by Jean-Marie Le Pen of the National Front (FN) with 13 per cent, and Union for French Democracy (UDF) leader François Bayrou 11 nine per cent.
Support is lower for Revolutionary Communist League (LCR) member Olivier Besancenot, Marie-George Buffet of the French Communist Party (PCF), Movement for France (MPF) leader Philippe de Villiers, Arlette Laguiller of Workers' Struggle (LO), Dominique Voynet of the Greens (Verts), and Frédéric Nihous of Hunting, Fishing, Nature, Traditions (CPNT).
Sarkozy currently serves as France's interior minister. Royal is the leader of the regional government of Poitou-Charentes. In a prospective run-off scenario, Sarkozy holds a four-point advantage over Royal.
Earlier this month, Bayrou commented on his chances, saying, "Each candidate fights with their weapons. Dominant parties have an audience in dominant media. I go to the most independent."
The UMP's Jacques Chirac won the presidential ballot in 1995, and was re-elected in a run-off over Le Pen in May 2002. The next election is scheduled for Apr. 22. If no candidate garners more than 50 per cent of all cast ballots, a run-off would take place on May 6.
Polling Data
Who would you vote for in the presidential election?
Jan. 20 | Jan. 7 | Dec. 9 | |
Nicolas Sarkozy | 32% | 33% | 34% |
Ségolène Royal | 29% | 32% | 32% |
Jean-Marie Le Pen | 13% | 12% | 11.5% |
François Bayrou | 11% | 10% | 9% |
Olivier Besancenot | 3.5% | 3% | 4% |
Marie-George Buffet | 3.5% | 3% | 2% |
Philippe de Villiers | 3% | 2.5% | 2% |
Arlette Laguiller | 2% | 1.5% | 2% |
Dominique Voynet | 2% | 1.5% | 1.5% |
Frédéric Nihous | 1% | 1.5% | 1% |
Run-Off Scenario
Jan. 20 | Jan. 7 | Dec. 9 | |
Nicolas Sarkozy | 52% | 50% | 50% |
Ségolène Royal | 48% | 50% | 50% |
Source: Ipsos / Le Point
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 963 French adults, conducted on Jan. 19 and Jan. 20, 2007. No margin of error was provided.