Sarkozy most unpopular French leader - Gayo Lues

The poll for the Journal du Dimanche newspaper found that 64 percent of French people disapprove of Sarkozy, a figure much higher than the 46 percent disapproval rating in 1981 for Valerie Giscard d’Estaing, the last French president not to win a second term.

According to the latest surveys, Sarkozy’s main rival, Socialist Francois Hollande, has regained momentum for the first round vote and predicted to win a May 6 runoff by between 9 and 14 percentage points.

The first round of the 2012 French presidential election will take place on 22 April 2012, with a second round run-off, if necessary, to be held on May 6.

The government’s cost-cutting measures have contributed to the nosedive in popularity of the right-wing president.

Sarkozy plans to increase sales tax from 19.6 to 21.2 percent, reduce payroll charges on employers, restrict legal immigration, reform professional training, tax exiles and balance the budget by 2016.

He also has confirmed plans to continue to reduce the size of the French state, principally by not replacing all retiring civil servants, and save 115 billion euros (USD 150 billion) through cuts and tax rises.

However, his challenger Hollande has already published his 60-point plan. He is seeking to win the votes of Sarkozy critics with plans to reduce the speed of spending cuts, renegotiate the EU fiscal pact, cap fuel prices and introduce a 75-percent additional tax on high earners.

YH/MFB