(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy is the early favourite in France's presidential race, according to a poll by BVA for LCI. At least 53 per cent of respondents would support the centre-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) leader in head-to-head contests against two Socialist politicians.

The 50-year-old Sarkozy holds a six per cent lead over former presidential candidate and prime minister Lionel Jospin, and a 14 per cent advantage over former prime minister Laurent Fabius. In November, Sarkozy was elected president of the UMP.

Earlier this month, Sarkozy urged for a new approach to continental diplomacy, saying, "In a Europe of six members, the engine was obviously Franco-German. A Europe of 25 needs an engine of five (including Britain, Spain and Italy) at first and probably six, with Poland."

Current French president Jacques Chirac would lose to the two Socialist contenders. Jospin would defeat Chirac by 22 per cent, while Fabius would win by 12 per cent.

The 71-year-old Chirac won the presidential election in 1995, and was re-elected in a run-off over Jean-Marie Le Pen in May 2002. The next presidential ballot in France is tentatively scheduled for April 2007.

Polling Data

If the second round of the presidential election took place this Sunday, and the candidates were these, who would you vote for?

Nicolas Sarkozy 53% - 47% Lionel Jospin
Nicolas Sarkozy 57% - 43% Laurent Fabius
Jacques Chirac 39% - 61% Lionel Jospin
Jacques Chirac 44% - 56% Laurent Fabius

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