(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Nicolas Sarkozy begins the year with poor numbers, according to a poll by CSA published in Le Parisien. 48 per cent of respondents have confidence in their president to face the country’s problems, down seven points since December.

In May 2007, Sarkozy, a centre-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) candidate and former interior minister, won the presidential run-off with 53.06 per cent of the vote. Sarkozy appointed François Fillon—who had been his adviser and presidential campaign leader—as prime minister. Only 42 per cent of respondents express confidence in Fillon.

Yesterday, Sarkozy vowed to help France defend its industrial interests, saying, "There is no question of France remaining unable to react in the face of a rise in the power of extremely aggressive sovereign funds which only follow economic logic. France must protect its companies and give them the means to develop and defend themselves. I want the (state-owned Caisse des Depots et Consignations) to be the instrument of this policy of defending and promoting the essential economic interests of the nation."

Polling Data

Do you have confidence in French president Nicolas Sarkozy to face the country’s problems?

Do you have confidence in French prime minister François Fillon to face the country’s problems?

Source: CSA / Le Parisien
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,010 French adults, conducted on Jan. 2 and Jan. 3, 2008. No margin of error was provided.

Archive Search

Over 19,600 Polls
Search the Angus Reid Global Monitor Polls & Research archive.