Polls & Research
Archive Search
Sarkozy and Fillon Not as Popular in France
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Fewer French adults provide a positive assessment of their president and prime minister, according to a review of three recent public opinion polls. In a survey by Ipsos published in Le Point, 58 per cent of respondents have a favourable opinion of Nicolas Sarkozy’s performance, and 48 per cent feel the same way about François Fillon.
The numbers show a five-point drop for the president, and a six-point decline for the prime minister.
In a study by BVA for L’Express, 55 per cent of respondents have a good opinion of Sarkozy’s tenure, and 42 per cent feel the same way about Fillon’s work. In a poll by LH2 for Libération, 54 per cent of respondents express positive feelings about their president, and 47 per cent feel the same way about their prime minister.
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 Fillon—who had been his adviser and presidential campaign leader—as prime minister.
Since Nov. 14, transportation workers have been on strike to protest a government proposal to reform France’s pension system, causing major mobility problems. The measures would bring transport and energy workers’ pensions in line with other public employees. Among other provisions, the proposed law would require members of this group to work for 40 years instead of 37.5 to earn a full pension.
On Nov. 15, Fillon discussed the current state of affairs in the Senate, saying, "I call for an end to the strike and the start of negotiations at companies. (...) This strike must stop. It’s a strike that penalizes users and that will not result in social progress."
Polling Data
a) Do you have a favourable or unfavourable opinion of Nicolas Sarkozy’s performance as president?
|
Nov. 2007 |
Oct. 2007 |
Sept. 2007 |
|
|
Favourable |
58% |
63% |
64% |
|
Unfavourable |
39% |
34% |
30% |
Do you have a favourable or unfavourable opinion of François Fillon’s performance as prime minister?
|
Nov. 2007 |
Oct. 2007 |
Sept. 2007 |
|
|
Favourable |
48% |
54% |
53% |
|
Unfavourable |
43% |
37% |
34% |
Source: Ipsos / Le Point
Methodology: Interviews with 936 French registered voters, conducted on Nov. 9 and Nov. 10, 2007. No margin of error was provided.
b) What is your opinion of Nicolas Sarkozy’s performance as president?
|
Nov. 2007 |
Oct. 2007 |
Sept. 2007 |
|
|
Good |
55% |
55% |
57% |
|
Bad |
38% |
37% |
33% |
What is your opinion of François Fillon’s performance as prime minister?
|
Nov. 2007 |
Oct. 2007 |
Sept. 2007 |
|
|
Good |
42% |
43% |
45% |
|
Bad |
40% |
41% |
34% |
Source: BVA / L’Express
Methodology: Face-to-face interviews with 981 French adults, conducted from Nov. 8 to Nov. 10, 2007. No margin of error was provided.
c) Do you have a positive or negative opinion of Nicolas Sarkozy’s performance as president?
|
Nov. 2007 |
Oct. 2007 |
Sept. 2007 |
|
|
Positive |
54% |
61% |
66% |
|
Negative |
40% |
35% |
30% |
Do you have a positive or negative opinion of François Fillon’s performance as prime minister?
|
Nov. 2007 |
Oct. 2007 |
Sept. 2007 |
|
|
Positive |
47% |
51% |
59% |
|
Negative |
43% |
43% |
34% |
Source: LH2 / Libération
Methodology: Interviews with 1,004 French adults, conducted on Nov. 9 and Nov. 10, 2007. No margin of error was provided.