(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Jacques Chirac maintains stable public backing in France, according to a poll by BVA published in L'Express. 54 per cent of respondents have a good opinion of the president, a one per cent increase since October.

Chirac won the presidential election in 1995, and was re-elected in a run-off over Jean-Marie Le Pen in May 2002. The head of state's popularity increased in late 2002 and early 2003 due to his vocal opposition to armed conflict in Iraq without an explicit mandate from the United Nations (UN) Security Council.

Current finance minister Nicolas Sarkozy is seeking the presidency of the centre-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP). Final results from the leadership vote will be announced on Nov. 28, but Sarkozy is heavily favoured to win the ballot.

In July, Chirac said that he would not allow Sarkozy to keep his post as finance minister and head the UMP, saying this would undermine prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin. The current president has not ruled out becoming a candidate for the third time in 2007.

Raffarin has lower numbers. 28 per cent of respondents have a good opinion of the prime minister, a five per cent drop since October.

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