French Unhappy With Sarkozy Action On Crisis

Public dissatisfaction with French President Nicolas Sarkozy's handling of the economic crisis soared after he went on television last week to defend his government's actions, an opinion poll showed on Sunday.

More than 1 million people took to the streets of French cities on Jan. 29 to demand action to protect jobs and wages, and in his 90-minute television address on Thursday, Sarkozy said the government was doing all it could to mitigate the effects of the downturn.

Most of the 1,014 over-18s questioned in a Viavoice poll for the left-wing newspaper Liberation acknowledged that the failings of the world financial system were to blame for the downturn.

However, 66 percent expressed dissatisfaction with the way Sarkozy had handled it, up 10 points compared with a similar poll in January.

Leaders of the country's unions, which also called a nationwide strike in the public and private sectors on Jan. 29, have expressed disappointment with the initiatives announced by Sarkozy and have warned of further protests.

According to the Viavoice poll, 53 percent of those surveyed believed it was at moments of social hardship that protests should be held.

"For the majority of French people, the time appears to be right for social movements," the polling organisation said in a statement.

The survey also showed growing discontent with Prime Minister Francois Fillon, while few had faith in solutions proposed by the opposition Socialist Party.

Seventy-four percent described economic stimulus measures proposed by the Socialists as "not credible".

"Against the backdrop of the economic crisis, condemnation is equally affecting the left and is creating favourable conditions for a rise in extremism and feelings of protest," Viavoice said.