PARIS – French president Nicolas Sarkozy heard more bad news at the weekend, with his popularity hitting new lows and his political allies forecast to suffer heavy defeat at this month’s regional elections.
The regional vote, to be held over two rounds on March 14th and 21st is the last major test of opinion ahead of the 2012 presidential election and worries about the state of the economy look certain to weigh on the chances of the ruling centre-right.
A CSA opinion poll in Le Parisiendaily showed Mr Sarkozy's approval rating down four points in a month at 36 per cent – the lowest level since he won power in 2007. A separate CSA poll predicted that left-wing groups would win a combined 52 per cent of the vote at the local elections against 28 per cent for centre-right and right parties.
Politicians on both sides said the economy was weighing on voters’ minds, with data last week showing the unemployment rate hitting 10 per cent in France for the first time in a decade. More alarming still, a record 25.3 per cent of males aged 15 to 24 were registered as unemployed.
The Socialists already control 20 out of France’s 22 mainland regions and a new, resounding victory this month could heal some of the deep, internal rifts that condemned the party to defeat at recent national elections.
It is also likely to comfort the rare dissenting figures on the right, such as former prime minister Dominique de Villepin, who is considering a possible challenge to Mr Sarkozy in 2012.
“A positive trend is opening up for all those who see themselves as alternatives to Nicolas Sarkozy, both on the left and the right,” said political analyst Stéphane Rozes.
Mr Sarkozy has suffered a string of setbacks in recent months. He has tried to stay aloof from regional campaigning, sending his sturdy prime minister, François Fillon, into the firing line, but this policy has not done him any favours.
Even though the centre-right is floundering, Mr Fillon himself has won plaudits for his calm, steady manner, and his own popularity rating is consistently higher than Mr Sarkozy’s . – (Reuters)