(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in France believe former finance minister Nicolas Sarkozy would be an ideal presidential contender for the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), according to a poll by CSA published in Le Parisien. 38 per cent of respondents believe Sarkozy would be the best candidate for the centre-right party.

Yesterday, 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.

In November, the 49-year-old Sarkozy was elected president of the UMP. Defence minister Michèle Alliot-Marie is second on the list of prospective candidates with 14 per cent, followed by Chirac, de Villepin, former prime minister Alain Juppé, health minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, education minister François Fillon, and Raffarin.

As far as potential contenders for the Socialist Party (PS), former presidential candidate and prime minister Lionel Jospin heads the list with 22 per cent, followed by former finance minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoë, former culture and education minister Jack Lang, PS chairman François Hollande, former prime minister Laurent Fabius, former employment minister Martine Aubry and former leader Henri Emmanuelli.

The next presidential election in France is tentatively scheduled for April 2007.

Polling Data

Who would be the best candidate for the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) in the next presidential election?

Who would be the best candidate for the Socialist Party (PS) in the next presidential election?

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