(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Fewer adults in France are content with the performance of their president, according to a poll by Ifop published in Le Journal du Dimanche. 29 per cent of respondents are satisfied with Jacques Chirac, down 10 points since March.

Chirac won the presidential election in 1995, and was re-elected in a run-off over Jean-Marie Le Pen in May 2002. Following a defeat in the May 2005 referendum on the European Constitution, Chirac named Dominique de Villepin as the country's new prime minister. 24 per cent of respondents are satisfied with de Villepin, down 13 points in a month.

Earlier this year, de Villepin promoted the First Employment Contract (CPE)—a new type of agreement to encourage companies to employ younger workers. Students protested for weeks over the fact that, under the new plan, anyone under 26 would require a two-year trial period before signing an indefinite contract. On Apr. 10, Chirac decided to scrap the CPE law.

Last week, interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy discussed the failure of the CPE law, saying, "If we want to restore hope to the French people, great changes are essential. But the reforms will only be accepted if they are perceived as fair by the population."

Polling Data

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with Jacques Chirac's performance as president?

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with Dominique de Villepin's performance as prime minister?

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