HOLDING STEADY FROM LAST MONTH
Strong Low Numbers, Consistent Low-To-No Confidence

Source: TNS-Sofres / Le Figaro

We are in the midst of an election cycle here in the United States and can attest to the predictive worthlessness of polls and punditry in the close races. Meanwhile in France, the close races are between the présidentiables of the two major parties for second place.

However, here's one sure bet -- Jack is a sure loser. Still, Jack intends to keep us all guessing.

CHIRAC REFUSES TO RULE OUT THIRD-TERM CAMPAIGN

PARIS November 1, 2006 (AFP) - Thirty-two percent of French people say they trust the president, down eight percentage points since September. Sixty-one percent do not trust him, compared to 55 percent a month earlier, according to the La Vie monthly barometer.

The score is the 73-year-old president's worst since June, when he hit an all-time low of 29 percent after a wave of mass protests against an unpopular youth job reform — which eventually had to be withdrawn.

Chirac, who after 11 years as president has hit record low popularity levels, sparked press speculation this week that he may be planning — against all odds [see here and here] — to seek a third term in next year's presidential election.

... [Figaro writes:] "The bet would have seemed absurd not so long ago. Jacques Chirac has evidently not ruled it out."

But other observers said Chirac was merely fuelling suspense to avoid being overshadowed by his centre-right rival Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, a frontrunner to succeed him next year.

Confidence in Chirac's ally Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin also sank five points to 27 percent — close to the record low of 23 percent he hit after the job protests — according to the poll of 1,005 people carried out on October 25 and 26.

PFFT (What is this?): Jack off-track 4¾ | Rayonnement français 0