February 21, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Public support for Jacques Chirac increased this month in France, according to a poll by Ipsos published in Le Point. 46 per cent of respondents have a favourable opinion of their president, up five points since January.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Public support for Jacques Chirac increased this month in France, according to a poll by Ipsos published in Le Point. 46 per cent of respondents have a favourable opinion of their president, up five points since January.

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. 40 per cent of respondents have a favourable opinion of de Villepin, up one point in a month.

On Feb. 19, a series of constitutional reforms proposed by Chirac were approved by the National Assembly and the Senate. The measures include declaring the death penalty unconstitutional, and granting presidents immunity from prosecution.

France will hold a presidential election in April, and will renew its National Assembly in June.

Polling Data

Do you have a favourable or unfavourable opinion of president Jacques Chirac?

	Feb. 2007	Jan. 2007	Dec. 2006
Favourable	46%	41%	46%
Unfavourable	50%	56%	51%

Do you have a favourable or unfavourable opinion of prime minister Dominique de Villepin?

	Feb. 2007	Jan. 2007	Dec. 2006
Favourable	40%	39%	40%
Unfavourable	53%	57%	54%

Source: Ipsos / Le Point
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 944 French adults, conducted on Feb. 9 and Feb. 10, 2007. No margin of error was provided.