(CPOD) Nov. 17, 2004 - Many French adults believe the political aspirations of finance minister Nicolas Sarkozy will have a negative effect on current president Jacques Chirac, according to a poll by BVA published in L'Express. 53 per cent of respondents think Sarkozy will become a hindrance for Chirac, while 24 per cent regard him as an asset.

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 current prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin. 66 per cent of respondents say Sarkozy is actively exploring a presidential run in 2007.

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.

The current president has not ruled out becoming a candidate for the third time in 2007.

Polling Data

In your view, what would the accession of Nicolas Sarkozy to the presidency of the UMP mean?

Why do you think Nicolas Sarkozy wanted to become the UMP's president?

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