October 09, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Fewer adults in France are satisfied with Nicolas Sarkozy, according to a poll by CSA published in Le Parisien. 55 per cent of respondents have confidence in their president to face the country’s problems, down six points since August.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Fewer adults in France are satisfied with Nicolas Sarkozy, according to a poll by CSA published in Le Parisien. 55 per cent of respondents have confidence in their president to face the country’s problems, down six points since August.

In May, 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. 47 per cent of respondents express confidence in Fillon, down six points in a month.

On Oct. 4, Sarkozy received Bulgaria’s highest national honour—the "Stara Planina"—for his role in the release of a Palestinian medical intern and five Bulgarian nurses who had been sentenced to death in a Libyan court for allegedly infecting children with HIV. The French president declared: "The tragedy of the Bulgarian medics was not only a tragedy of the Bulgarian people, but also of Europe and France. Every European member should rely on the solidarity of the others."

Polling Data

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

	Sept. 2007	Aug. 2007	Jul. 2007
Confidence	55%	61%	65%
No confidence	37%	33%	29%

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

	Sept. 2007	Aug. 2007	Jul. 2007
Confidence	47%	53%	56%
No confidence	41%	39%	34%

Source: CSA / Le Parisien
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,001 French adults, conducted on Sept. 26 and Sept. 27, 2007. No margin of error was provided.