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Blow to Chirac as presidency poll favours Sarkozy
Should Jocko start shredding records?The waning popularity of Franceâs president and prime minister was highlighted yesterday in a damaging opinion poll which revealed that the powerful interior minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, was rated more highly as a potential president-in-waiting than either of his masters. Mr Sarkozy was described as an "excellent" or "good" right-wing presidential candidate by 50% of those polled for a survey published in the weekly Le Point magazine. President Jacques Chirac was seen as a positive runner by only 40% and the prime minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, got the hypothetical support of just 24%. The poll comes as a further blow to the leaders of Franceâs government, who have seen their popularity drop to an all-time low in recent weeks. Jocko, what happened? Everybody loved you a year ago? Mr Sarkozy was rated as the man "most capable of changing things in France" by 42% of those polled; only 9% believed that Mr Chirac, who is beset by economic difficulties and mired in an unpopular social reform programme, was capable of implementing change. It happens so fast, doesnât it Jocko? Hero to bum, just like that... The results come as welcome news for the most ambitious figure within the French government. Often referred to as "goldfinger" by the French media, because of his ability to make a success of every project he touches, Mr Sarkozy has been the governmentâs most prominent minister since his appointment 18 months ago. He has exploited a shrewd understanding of the media to help establish his omnipresence, appearing on news bulletins almost daily. Sounds almost like an American pol. Since taking up his position, he has resolved the long-running dispute over the Sangatte refugee camp, repatriated asylum seekers, launched a successful crackdown on crime, dramatically reduced road accident deaths, arrested the anti-GM campaigner José Bové and overseen the capture of Franceâs most wanted terrorist in the forests of Corsica. You mean heâs accomplished something? And heâs French?? His hardline legislation has come as part of a deliberate strategy to seize the initiative from the National Front after its electoral successes last year. Human rights activists were appalled by a draconian law that makes loitering in the hallways of blocks of flats an imprisonable offence, but Mr Sarkozy said it was a vital part of his campaign to reduce crime in Franceâs impoverished suburbs. Hmmmmmm. Wonder who that law might be aimed at? His legislation also made it an offence to show disrespect to "the dignity of the republic and its symbols" — making whistling during the Marseillaise a punishable act. Gendarme, whack his peepee! Until the debacle of the Corsican referendum this summer, when the governmentâs desire to grant a modicum of autonomy to the island was rejected, Mr Sarkozy could do no wrong, but even this failure was quickly forgotten. The poll results are destined to increase tensions within Mr Chiracâs administration and his UMP party. Ministers have already begun jostling behind the scenes in the race to replace Mr Raffarin. Looks like theyâve found the fall guy... But Mr Sarkozyâs hyperactivity and public successes have made him deeply unpopular within the ranks of the UMP, and his relations with Mr Chirac have been strained in the past by his relentless ambition. As opposed to Jock? Puh-leeze! When Mr Chirac was prime minister in 1976, he spotted Mr Sarkozy, an energetic student activist of just 20, and made him his protégé, grooming him for power, only to be betrayed when Mr Sarkozy backed a rival presidential candidate in 1995. It was nuthinâ personal, Mike. It was strictly business. Mr Sarkozyâs rumoured fling with the presidentâs daughter weakened their friendship further. Yesterdayâs poll results may worsen this tense relationship, ultimately damaging the interior ministerâs prospects. HER FATHER IS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY!!! However, Mr Chiracâs government may draw some comfort from another survey published yesterday, which revealed that only 29% of the population had any confidence in the ability of the left wing to mount an effective opposition to the government. The left wing is more inept then what they got? That might be fun to watch. 20 hour work weeks, 6 months vacation? What else you got? Posted by: tu3031 2003-10-27 |
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