Hollande Most Unpopular French President Ever, Poll Shows

François Hollande

THE GLOBE AND MAIL: François Hollande has become the most unpopular French president on record, an opinion poll showed on Monday, with the Socialist leader hit by anger over tax hikes, unemployment and rows over the government’s immigration policy.

Hollande’s popularity has sunk to 26 per cent of those surveyed, the first time the BVA poll has seen a French president’s approval ratings fall below 30 per cent.

Hollande’s approval rating had started sinking quite soon after he was elected in May, 2012, but this survey shows his popularity lower than that of any other president at any time in their term in the 32 years the BVA survey has been carried out.

This underlines the task facing Hollande and his government in reviving their popularity at a time when record high jobless numbers and wrangling over tax levels have clouded efforts to revitalize a sluggish economy. » | Ingrid Melander | Paris – Reuters | Monday, October 28, 2013