Sarkozy poll ratings fall on economy worries

The survey of 1,003 people, found 60 percent believed Sarkozy projected a positive image of France abroad but 63 percent believed he showed off his private life too much and only 34 percent believed he had implemented measures to improve purchasing power.

A third poll in the weekly newspaper Journal du Dimanche showed Sarkozy's centre right UMP party neck-and-neck with the opposition Socialists ahead of municipal elections on March 9 and 16.

This poll, by the Ifop institute, showed 33 percent support for the UMP and 32 percent for the Socialists. It found 64 percent of those questioned intended to vote on local issues.

(Reporting by James Mackenzie; editing by Andrew Dobbie)