(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Current Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) leader Nicolas Sarkozy could become the next president of France, according to a poll by CSA published in Le Parisien. At least 54 per cent of respondents would support Sarkozy in head-to-head contests against two Socialist Party (PS) politicians.

Sarkozy holds an eight per cent lead over PS chairman François Hollande, and a 10 per cent lead over former prime minister Laurent Fabius. In November, the 49-year-old Sarkozy was elected president of the UMP.

On May 31, French president Jacques Chirac appointed Dominique de Villepin as the country's new prime minister, substituting Jean-Pierre Raffarin. The decision follows the defeat of the "Yes" side in the May 29 referendum on the European Constitution.

Chirac won the presidential election in 1995, and was re-elected in a run-off over Jean-Marie Le Pen in May 2002. If he were to become a nominee for the third time, the 72-year-old Chirac would lose to Hollande by four per cent, but would defeat Fabius by two per cent.

The election is tentatively scheduled for April 2007.

Polling Data

If the second round of the presidential election took place next Sunday, who would you vote for?

Nicolas Sarkozy 54% - 46% François Hollande
Nicolas Sarkozy 55% - 45% Laurent Fabius
Jacques Chirac 48% - 52% François Hollande
Jacques Chirac 51% - 49% Laurent Fabius

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