Credit:UN/DPI Photo

Jacques Chirac

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Public support for Jacques Chirac barely increased in France this month, according to a poll by Louis-Harris published in Libération. 33 per cent of respondents have a positive opinion of the president, up two points 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.

In May, 54.8 per cent of all French voters rejected the European Constitution in a nationwide plebiscite. The outcome is regarded as a negative response to the current centre-right government. Two days after the ballot, Chirac appointed Dominique de Villepin as the country's new prime minister, substituting Jean-Pierre Raffarin. 45 per cent of respondents have a positive opinion of Villepin, up two points in a month.

On Oct. 27, riots broke out in the Paris suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois after the death of two teenagers who allegedly were being pursued by police officers. In 14 nights of violence—which has spread to 19 French provinces—more than 6,800 vehicles have been torched, 1,800 people have been arrested, and one person has died.

On Nov. 8, Chirac authorized a state of emergency. Interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy declared, "For a period of 12 days, searches will be possible every time we suspect possession of weapons (in order to) systematically apprehend troublemakers and systematically prevent a spread of violence."

Yesterday, Chirac discussed the current state of affairs, saying, "We need to respond in a strong and quick way to the unquestionable problems that many inhabitants of the deprived neighbourhoods surrounding our cities are facing."

Polling Data

Do you have a positive or negative opinion of president Jacques Chirac?

Do you have a positive or negative opinion of prime minister Dominique de Villepin?

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