PARIS (MNI) – French President Nicolas Sarkozy kicked off his
campaign for re-election Wednesday, pledging to continue reforms to
modernize the country and to consolidate public finances.

Sarkozy explained that he took the “heavy” decision several weeks
ago, “because the situation today in France, in Europe and in the world,
which has experienced an unprecedented series of crisis in the last
three years, means that not to seek the confidence of the French again
would be like deserting one’s post.”

“France cannot stand by and watch the world go by,” he said in a
prime-time television interview with the Eiffel Tower scintillating in
the background. “If we want to preserve our social model, our way of
life, we must continue to make changes.”

“If France is strong, [the French] will be protected,” he declared.

The numerous reforms launched since 2007 “are beginning to have an
impact,” he said, citing as an example the 0.2% GDP growth registered in
the previous quarter, when most other Eurozone countries, including
Germany, sustained a decline. Still, “one cannot do everything in five
years,” he conceded.

Along with controls on immigration and further cutbacks in public
spending, the president reiterated his pledge to assure that every
unemployed person have access to professional training in order to get
off the welfare roles.

Sarkozy had intended to keep out of the campaign ring as long as
possible in order to profit fully from his incumbent status. Up until an
official declaration, the media are not obliged to provide equal air
time to other candidates.

However, this strategy has failed to yield the desired results.
Voter-intention polls show the president trailing his Socialist
opponent Francois Hollande by 4-8 points for the first round of the
elections on April 22 and by 12-20 points for the run-off on May 6. In a
BVA survey conducted late last week, only 37% of respondents favored
Sarkozy’s re-election, down two points since January.

Parliamentarians in the president’s UMP party, worried about their
own fate in the legislative elections that follow those for the
presidency, hope that the official campaign launch will give their
candidate the boost needed to unravel his rival’s lead.

An astute campaigner with rhetorical talent, Sarkozy is apparently
quite confident of his chances. After all, he did come from behind to
beat the Socialist candidate in 2007. But five years ago at this
time he had already overtaken Segolene Royal in the polls, a lead which
he maintained over the rest of the campaign.

The president’s campaign machine has been working behind the scenes
for months to prepare for the race. Sarkozy himself has been polishing
his image as president, taking advantage of each speaking opportunity to
highlight his role as captain of country’s interests in the stormy seas
of the financial crisis, while avoiding the unseemly verbal outbursts
and the flamboyant lifestyle that tarnished his image early on in his
mandate.

Surveys show that voters do recognize his “presidential stature” —
one of the few points where he has an edge over Hollande, a lawmaker
from a rural constituency who has never held a high government position.
Hollande is also viewed as somewhat less competent on the issue of
restoring the competitiveness of French firms.

The president’s other strong points in the eyes of many voters are
economic policy and fiscal consolidation, but even here Hollande is
considered more credible. As for controlling immigration, Sarkozy takes
second to the right-wing candidate Marine Le Pen, the “third man” in
race with 15%-20% backing in the polls.

On most other issues — from controlling rents to overhauling the
tax system — a majority of the French lend greater credibility to
Hollande.

The BVA poll also showed that 63% of Hollande’s supporters
primarily want the defeat of Sarkozy. Conversely, 69% of Sarkozy’s
backing is aimed at thwarting his rival’s election.

In any case, a large share of the voters are not yet firmly decided
on their choice, pollsters say. If the race is indeed still open,
Sarkozy has a long, uphill battle ahead.

–Paris newsroom +331 4271 5540; ssandelius@marketnews.com

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