Chirac's popularity sinks to 21%
President Jacques Chirac, whose popularity has been steadily falling, now has the approval of only 21% of French voters, with more than seven French in 10 saying they did not have confidence in the head of state, according to a poll published today.
The 1,000 people questioned in the TNS-Sofres poll rated Chirac’s main political rival, his Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, as the most popular person on the right, with 51% of respondents saying they would like to see him play an important role in political life. Sarkozy makes no secret of wanting to run for president in 2007.
Of those surveyed, 39% expressed confidence in Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin – compared to 49% who did not. Chirac appointed Villepin in a government shake-up following the “no” victory in the May 29 referendum on the European Union constitution.
The French rejection of the EU constitution was seen in part as a response to fears that the 25-member bloc would threaten French jobs and the French way of life.
