A majority of people in France believe Nicolas Sarkozy will try for a political comeback, and while he is viewed negatively by some he is seen positively by 82% of UMP supporters.
A majority (56%) of people in France believe former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, who was defeated by current President François Hollande in May, will make a return to politics in 2013. This was the view amongst a majority of voters of all political persuasions, and was held most strongly (68%) by those who support Mr Sarkozy’s centre-right UMP party.
The poll was conducted near the end of February, before Mr Sarkozy made headlines this week for suggesting in a media interview that he may be “obliged” to return to public life, further fuelling speculation that he will try and reclaim his former office in the 2017 presidential election.
Sarkozy: some like him, more don't
Meanwhile, Mr Sarkozy tops the list of the YouGov France / Le Huffington Post Palmarès des Personnalités Politique, which asks respondents whether they have a positive or negative view of a range of political personalities. He is seen positively by 29% of people nationally (tying with Socialist Party politician Manuel Valls for the top spot) and 82% of UMP supporters.
However, according to the same tracker the former president is viewed negatively by 38% of people, tying for third place with Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right National Front.
A separate YouGov poll found that only a quarter (25%) of French voters have a favourable impression of Mr Hollande’s performance as president, while more than six in 10 (64%) say they have a negative view of his record in office, and 11% are undecided.
See the full results of the 'comeback' poll here
See here for the Palmarès des Personnalités Politique tracker
And click here for the Hollande poll
