May 10, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - French voters would select a different president if they had a chance to take part in last year’s run-off once again, according to a poll by LH2 published in Libération. 53 per cent of respondents would vote for Ségolène Royal of the Socialist Party (PS), while 47 per cent would back Nicolas Sarkozy of the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP).

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - French voters would select a different president if they had a chance to take part in last year’s run-off once again, according to a poll by LH2 published in Libération. 53 per cent of respondents would vote for Ségolène Royal of the Socialist Party (PS), while 47 per cent would back Nicolas Sarkozy of the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP).

The first round of France’s presidential election took place in April 2007. Final results put Sarkozy in first place with 31.18 per cent of all cast ballots, followed by Royal with 25.87 per cent. In the May run-off, Sarkozy defeated Royal with 53.06 per cent of the vote. Sarkozy appointed François Fillon—who had been his adviser and presidential campaign leader—as prime minister.

On May 5, Fillon defended the current government’s record, saying, "Regrets are for when you draw up the balance sheet and the balance sheet will be prepared at the end of the five-year term."

The next presidential election in France is scheduled for April 2012. Sarkozy is eligible for a consecutive term in office.

Polling Data

If the second round of the presidential election took place today, which candidate would you vote for? (Decided Voters)

Ségolène Royal	53%
Nicolas Sarkozy	47%

Source: LH2 / Libération
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,004 French adults, conducted on May 2 and May 3, 2008. No margin of error was provided.