Paris - French president Nicolas Sarkozy's job performance received low marks in polls Thursday, taken at the midpoint of his five-year term - although one poll found French voters would probably re-elect him if the presidential election were held now. Asked by the BVA institute if "Nicolas Sarkozy fulfills the function of president in a satisfying manner," 65 per cent of respondents said no, including more than one in four supporters of his conservative UMP party.
Only 24 per cent of the respondents approved of Sarkozy's actions in immigration and national identity, and the same number praised his fight against crime. Only 8 per cent said the French president was doing the right things to combat joblessness.
However, in a poll by the French Public Opinion Institute (IFOP) which asked 1,001 French adults whom they would vote for if the first round of presidential elections were held now, 28 per cent chose Sarkozy, well ahead of the 20 per cent garnered by opposition leader Martine Aubry of the Socialists.
Marine Le Pen, daughter of right-wing extremist Jean-Marie Le Pen and expected successor to his National Front party, received 11 per cent of the votes.
This represents something of a comeback for the Le Pens and suggests that Sarkozy is losing a part of the right-wing electorate he successfully wooed for the 2007 presidential election.
