(Angus Reid Global Scan) - French adults are split over the political future of Dominique de Villepin, according to a poll by CSA released by France Info. 47 per cent of respondents think the prime minister should remain in his post in spite of a recent controversy, while 37 per cent want him to step down.

On Apr. 28, de Villepin issued a statement admitting he had authorized a series of investigations into corruption allegations related to Luxembourg-based financial firm Clearstream during his time as foreign minister. However, de Villepin denied having personally ordered a probe into the alleged involvement of interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy, and has ruled out resigning.

On May 10, French president Jacques Chirac made his first public comments on the Clearstream matter, declaring, "The republic is not a dictatorship of rumours, a dictatorship of slander. Democracy is not the disrespect and exploitation to outrageous lengths of legal procedures underway. I have full confidence in Dominique de Villepin's government to carry out the mission I have set for it, and I expect him to accelerate his actions further."

On May 16, an opposition-sponsored censure motion against de Villepin was defeated after only 190 lawmakers in the National Assembly supported it—short of the 290 required for the prime minister's dismissal.

During the parliamentary debate, de Villepin accused Socialist Party (PS) leader François Hollande of dirty politics, declaring, "Why did you bring this censure motion today? In the name of slander, lies and rumour. (...) Rumour is a beast one never wins control of." Hollande described the current administration as "not a government anymore, but a battlefield."

The next presidential election is tentatively scheduled for April 2007. Current interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy is seen as the main prospective contender for the governing centre-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP).

Polling Data

As you may know, some people have requested the resignation of prime minister Dominique de Villepin over the Clearstream situation. Do you think he should quit or stay on?

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