(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Former finance minister Nicolas Sarkozy could win the next presidential election in France, according to a poll by BVA published in Le Figaro. At least 53 per cent of decided respondents would vote for Sarkozy in head-to-head contests against two Socialist politicians.

Sarkozy—who became the new leader of the centre-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) in November—holds a six per cent advantage over former prime minister Lionel Jospin, and an eight per cent edge over Socialist Party (PS) chairman François Hollande.

Jacques Chirac won the presidential election in 1995, and was re-elected in a run-off over Jean-Marie Le Pen in May 2002, as a UMP candidate. If he were to become a nominee for the third time, the 72-year-old Chirac would defeat Hollande by two per cent, but would tie Jospin at 50 per cent.

The election is tentatively scheduled for April 2007.

Polling Data

If the second round of the presidential election took place next Sunday, and the following candidates were contending, for whom would you vote for?
(All voters expressing an intention to vote)

Lionel Jospin 47% - 53% Nicolas Sarkozy
François Hollande 46% - 54% Nicolas Sarkozy
François Hollande 49% - 51% Jacques Chirac
Lionel Jospin 50% - 50% Jacques Chirac

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