September 01, 2004

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Scan) - Nicolas Sarkozy has become one of the most popular public servants in France, according to a poll by Ipsos published in Le Point. 60 per cent of respondents have a favourable opinion of the current finance minister.

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Nicolas Sarkozy has become one of the most popular public servants in France, according to a poll by Ipsos published in Le Point. 60 per cent of respondents have a favourable opinion of the current finance minister.

Other two politicians have lower numbers. 49 per cent of respondents have a positive estimation of president Jacques Chirac, while 36 per cent feel the same way about prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin.

The next presidential election is scheduled for 2007. Chirac has not yet indicated if he will attempt to earn a third term in office as the candidate of the centre-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP).

Sarkozy recently stated that he would announce his decision regarding a possible run for the party's leadership this month. In July, Chirac said that he would not allow Sarkozy to keep his current government post and head the UMP, saying this would undermine Raffarin.

Polling Data

How would you rate the performance of the following politicians?

	Favourable	Unfavourable
Finance minister Nicolas Sarkozy	60%	36%
President Jacques Chirac	49%	46%
Prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin	36%	60%

Source: Ipsos / Le Point
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 954 eligible French voters, conducted on Aug. 20 and Aug. 21, 2004. Margin of error is 2 per cent.