在法國總統薩爾科齊上任一年之際，他面臨著國內支持率的下跌和日益增長的經濟問題，與他一年前以53%的支持率贏得總統大選及上任初期贏得61%的支持率形成了鮮明的對比。
CSA政治問題專家列維說，民調下降比並不是一個好兆頭，特別是當全球經濟危機並沒有很快顯示出隨時好轉的跡象。
“他經歷了一個比較好的短暫時期，那時他在他的妻子的陪同下去拜訪英國女王。但現在，又回到了棘手的問題上，法國人對這位總統及其政治方案和改革進行質問。這些方面引起了法國人對他的質問。”
4. (SOUNDBITE) (French) JEAN DANIEL LEVY, CO DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC OPINION
CSA, SAYING:
" He experienced a brief moment when it did get better, when he went
to visit the Queen [of England] accompanied by his wife. But now, returning to
the crux of the issues, under the interrogation of the French on the President
of the Republic and his political projects and reforms, due to this aspect,
he’s reincited interrogation."
薩爾科齊曾經一度被視為一股新鮮的活力，要把生命注入到萎靡不振的經濟當中，正如他的競選口號“多勞多得”所宣稱的那樣。但一些法國人現在對糧價的飛漲和購買力的急劇下降感到十分的灰心和失望。
法國越來越多的經濟問題已引發了一系列的抗議活動，其中比較重要的就是2007年10月由法國鐵路和地鐵系統舉行的罷工。這是對薩爾科齊推動艱難經濟改革的決心的第一次重大考驗。
但列維認為，造成薩爾科齊支持率下跌並不是因為他的政治上的失誤而造成的，而是因為過分暴露他的私人生活，尤其是他與模特出身的歌手布努尼的婚姻。
在薩爾科齊曾擔任市長的巴黎市郊訥伊—塞納市（Neuilly sur Seine），一些人說他們發現自己越來越質疑薩爾科齊的中間偏右政府。
“我對薩爾科齊先生的工作一點都不滿意。我覺得他一直不夠嚴肅。” 12. (SOUNDBITE) (French)
越來越多的法國人說，薩爾科齊一直過於關注他的私人生活，這使他無法把精力集中到解決法國一系列緊迫的問題上來。
EUROPE-MAY07-FRANCE-SARKOZY
EUROPE: STORY 344
SARKOZY
PARIS, FRANCE; PETRA, JORDAN; VERSAILLES, FRANCE; NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE (OUTSKIRTS
OF PARIS), FRANCE
FILE, APRIL 2007 FILE, MAY 2007 FILE, JANUARY 2008 FILE, FEBRUARY 2008 MAY 5,
2008
NATURAL WITH FRENCH SPEECH
DURATION:04:28
SOURCE:REUTERS
FEED HISTORY:+NEW EU (1515GMT)
INTRO: French President Nicolas Sarkozy reaches first year with much
discontent among the voters who elected him.
TV AND WEB RESTRICTIONS~**PART NO ACCESS FRANCE**~
French President Nicolas Sarkozy reaches his first year in office with a
huge challenge ahead if he is to pull out of record low popularity among the
French and gain back the ratings that will keep his presidency afloat and
avoid potentially paralysing strikes.
SHOWS: (EU) PARIS, FRANCE (FILE-MAY 2007) (TF1 POOL – NO ACCESS FRANCE)
1. VARIOUS OF NICOLAS SARKOZY’S PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION
(EU) PARIS, FRANCE (FILE-APRIL 2007) (UMP POOL – ACCESS ALL)
2. VARIOUS OF FRENCH PRESIDENT NICOLAS SARKOZY WITH UMP PARTY
SUPPORTERS
(EU) PARIS, FRANCE (MAY 5, 2008) (REUTERS – ACCESS ALL)
3. JEAN DANIEL LEVY, CO DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC OPINION CSA, SITTING IN HIS
OFFICE
4. (SOUNDBITE) (French) JEAN DANIEL LEVY, CO DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC OPINION
CSA, SAYING:
“The moment [when his approval ratings are at their lowest] is
right now. It’s now that his popularity is decreasing, by two to three points
per month. He experienced a brief moment when it did get better, when he went
to visit the Queen [of England] accompanied by his wife. But now, returning to
the crux of the issues, under the interrogation of the French on the President
of the Republic and his political projects and reforms, due to this aspect,
he’s reincited interrogation."
(EU) PARIS, FRANCE (FILE- OCTOBER 2007) (REUTERS – ACCESS ALL)
5. VARIOUS OF UNION PROTESTS
6. FRENCH METRO STATION DURING RAIL AND SUBWAY STRIKES BY TRANSPORTATION
UNIONS
(EU) PARIS, FRANCE (MAY 5, 2008) (REUTERS – ACCESS ALL)
7. (SOUNDBITE) (French) JEAN DANIEL LEVY, CO DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC OPINION
CSA, SAYING:
“Contrary to other preceding presidents, the chute [in Sarkozy’s
approval ratings] isn’t linked to a misstep in his political speech, the chute
isn’t linked to a political orientation or reform that didn’t satisfy the
French, the chute is linked to an overexposure of his private life, notably in
fact, from the moment of his voyage during Christmas time with Carla Bruni,
specifically in Jordan, and equally in Egypt. In this context, there’s an
interrogation by the French, who are asking if Nicolas Sarkozy is using this
form of communication as a mask of his political actions, thus a very
important distance marked by the French, brutally on this point just after the
media exposure of his private life, his personal relationships, his personal
vacations, vacations that seemed extraordinarily expensive, so that the French
are dealing with a moment of difficulty at this moment, at the end of the
month."
(EU) PETRA, JORDAN (JANUARY 5, 2008) (REUTERS – ACCESS ALL)
8. FRENCH PRESIDENT NICOLAS SARKOZY AND GIRLFRIEND CARLA BRUNI WALKING IN
TOURIST SITE
(EU) VERSAILLES, FRANCE (FEBRUARY 3, 2008) (REUTERS PICTURES – ACCESS
ALL)
9. VARIOUS STILL PICTURES OF SARKOZY AND BRUNI SITTING AT A CAFE
TERRACE
(EU) NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE (OUTSKIRTS OF PARIS), FRANCE (MAY 5, 2008) (REUTERS
– ACCESS ALL)
10. OLD COUPLE WALKING IN FRONT OF THE CITY HALL IN NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE
11. CITY HALL IN NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE
12. (SOUNDBITE) (French) DOMINIQUE, A RESIDENT OF NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE,
SAYING:
“I’m not at all satisfied by the work of Mr. Sarkozy. I find that
he has been too celebritised and has not been serious enough."
13. (SOUNDBITE) (French) GARY LOBERSTEIN, A RESIDENT OF NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE,
SAYING:
“There is a certain manner one should have when you’re the
president of the Republic, certain things you shouldn’t do, regarding his
personal life, his manners, the way he carries himself, how he attaches
himself to relationships with certain people and certain things, and
meanwhile, the things that a president of the Republic should do, he hasn’t
done."
STORY: French President Nicolas Sarkozy will mark his first year as
president with sinking opinion polls and facing growing economic problems that
many French and public opinion experts say will be a difficult wave to
ride.
Just a year after his triumphant election in May 2007, the climate has
changed starkly for his centre-right government and the anniversary is
expected to pass with as little pomp and circumstance as possible on Tuesday
(May 6) – a sharp contrast to the early days of his presidency when he enjoyed
61 percent voter confidence.
CSA political opinion expert Jean Daniel Levy says dipping opinion
polls are not a good sign, especially as the global economic crisis shows no
signs of a turnaround any time soon.
“He experienced a brief moment when it did get better, when he
went to visit the Queen [of England] accompanied by his wife. But now,
returning to the crux of the issues, under the interrogation of the French on
the President of the Republic and his political projects and reforms, due to
this aspect, he’s reincited interrogation."
The swashbuckling Sarkozy was once regarded as an energetic force that
could inject life into a stagnant economy, as publicised by one of his
election slogans, “Work more to earn more." But some French citizens
now find themselves disillusioned by soaring food prices and plummeting
purchasing power.
Mounting frustrations regarding the French economy have incited a
flurry of protests, including a notable strike in October 2007 by French rail
and metro services. It was the first big test of President Nicolas Sarkozy’s
determination to pass difficult economic reforms and also an examination of
union strength after his election last year on a platform of radical
change.
Yet according to Levy, it was not a political faux pas that caused
Sarkozy’s popularity to decline. Rather, it was the over-exposure of his
private life, especially his three-month whirlwind affair followed by a
heavily-scrutinised marriage to the supermodel-turned-singer Carla Bruni.
Some in Neuilly-Sur-Seine on the outskirts of Paris, Sarkozy’s home
town and where he served as former mayor, say they find themselves growing
more sceptical of his administration.
“I’m not at all satisfied by the work of Mr. Sarkozy. I find that
he has been too celebritised and has not been serious enough," said
Dominique.
A growing number of French citizens say the president has been focusing
too much on his private life, which has become a distraction, instead of
addressing the pressing issues in the country, such as rising prices and
flagging consumer confidence.
ENDS
