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Sarkozy Still Mistrusted by Most French

January 13, 2009

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The level of trust in Nicolas Sarkozy has increased in France but the majority of people remain skeptical of his leadership skills, according to a poll by TNS-Sofres published in Le Figaro Magazine. 56 per cent of respondents express no confidence in their president to face pressing national issues, down three points since December.

Sarkozy’s appointed prime minister, François Fillon, has similar numbers. 52 per cent of respondents have no confidence in Fillon, down two points since December.

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.

On Jan. 8, Sarkozy and German chancellor Angela Merkel called for an overhaul to the concept of global capitalism, saying, "In the 21st century, there it is no longer a single nation who can say what we should do or what we should think," referring to the United States. The French president claimed that financial capitalism based on speculation is "an immoral system" that has "perverted the logic of capitalism," adding, "It’s a system where wealth goes to the wealthy, where work is devalued, where production is devalued, where entrepreneurial spirit is devalued."

Polling Data

Do you have confidence in president Nicolas Sarkozy to face France’s problems?

 

Jan. 2009

Dec. 2008

Nov. 2008

Confidence

41%

37%

39%

No confidence

56%

59%

57%

Do you have confidence in prime minister François Fillon to face France’s problems?

 

Jan. 2009

Dec. 2008

Nov. 2008

Confidence

42%

40%

44%

No confidence

52%

54%

50%

Source: TNS-Sofres / Le Figaro Magazine
Methodology: Face-to-face interviews with 1,000 French adults, conducted from Jan. 2 to Jan. 5, 2009. No margin of error was provided.