November 27, 2004

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Scan) - The Greens (Verts) are the top rated political organization in France, according to a poll by Ipsos published in Le Point. 56 per cent of respondents have a favourable opinion of the political party.

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - The Greens (Verts) are the top rated political organization in France, according to a poll by Ipsos published in Le Point. 56 per cent of respondents have a favourable opinion of the political party.

In the 2002 National Assembly ballot, The Greens received 4.5 per cent of the total vote and elected three lawmakers: Martine Billard, Yves Cochet and Noël Mamère, a former presidential candidate. Fellow party member Marie-Christine Blandin is a senator.

The Socialist Party (PS) had the second-highest rating at 52 per cent, followed by the Union for French Democracy (UDF) with 44 per cent and the governing Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) with 42 per cent. In the Jun. 13 election to the European Parliament, the Socialists elected 31 lawmakers, compared with 17 for the UMP.

Current finance minister Nicolas Sarkozy is seeking the presidency of the centre-right UMP. Final results from the leadership vote will be announced tomorrow, but Sarkozy is heavily favoured to win the ballot.

The National Front (NF) of Jean-Marie Le Pen is the lowest-ranked party with 16 per cent. Le Pen's political organization—deemed as extreme right-wing—has been severely criticized for its stance on immigration.

Polling Data

How would you rate the performance of the following political parties?

	Favourable	Unfavourable
The Greens (Verts)	56%	37%
Socialist Party (PS)	52%	42%
Union for French Democracy (UDF)	44%	42%
Union for a Popular Movement (UMP)	42%	46%
Communist Party (PC)	26%	65%
National Front (FN)	16%	78%

Source: Ipsos / Le Point
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 958 eligible French voters, conducted on Nov. 12 and Nov. 13, 2004. No margin of error was provided.