(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Former finance minister Nicolas Sarkozy is the first choice of French adults to become the new head of government, according to a poll by Ifop released by LCI. 35 per cent of respondents would like the current Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) leader to take over if Jean-Pierre Raffarin stands down.

Raffarin has headed the French government since May 2002. A series of reforms to the health service and the pension system resulted in acute losses for the governing centre-right parties in the 2004 regional and European Parliament elections.

The governing centre-right UMP has been affected by the referendum on the European Constitution. The last 10 public opinion polls have suggested that a majority of decided voters will reject the proposed body of law in today's plebiscite. According to a story published in British newspaper The Times, Sarkozy has privately told Raffarin that the referendum "is lost." Sarkozy's press aide Franck Louvrier denied the comments.

Interior minister Dominique de Villepin is second on the list of potential prime ministers with 18 per cent, followed by employment minister Jean-Louis Borloo with 17 per cent, defence minister Michèle Alliot-Marie with 11 per cent, and health minister Philippe Douste-Blazy with eight per cent.

Last week, Raffarin hinted that he might be replaced after the referendum takes place, declaring, "Jobs are the government's main priority, whoever the prime minister happens to be in the next few months." In March, France's unemployment rate was 10.2 per cent. Around 2.7 million French adults are out of work.

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In the event the prime minister is replaced after the referendum on the European Constitution, who would you prefer in the position?

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