(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Public support for Nicolas Sarkozy remains low in France, according to a poll by Ifop published in Paris Match. 41 per cent of respondents approve of their president’s performance, down one point since June.

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 François Fillon—who had been his adviser and presidential campaign leader—as prime minister. 57 per cent of respondents approve of Fillon’s performance, unchanged since June.

On Jul. 17, Sarkozy publicly defended the prime minister in an interview with Le Monde, saying, "Fillon is fully in charge of his mission. At the moment, he is suffering a lot from back pain; that is true. But I do not think that he is suffering more in exercising his functions than his other predecessors. (...) I was content to rely on François Fillon to prepare for the French presidency of the European Union."

Polling Data

Do you approve or disapprove of Nicolas Sarkozy’s performance as president?

Do you approve or disapprove of François Fillon’s performance as prime minister?

Source: Ifop / Paris Match
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,003 French adults, conducted on Jul. 3 and Jul. 4, 2008. No margin of error was provided.

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