Crisis response boosts Sarkozy's approval rating

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy's response to the financial crisis has prompted a sharp revival in his popularity, according to an opinion poll released on Sunday.

The proportion of respondents satisfied with Sarkozy rose eight points in a month to 48 percent, flirting with the 50 percent mark for the first time since January, the Viavoice poll for Monday's Liberation newspaper showed. Those with a negative opinion of Sarkozy represented 50 percent of those polled.

Viavoice attributed the change to Sarkozy's determined stance in tackling the financial crisis, including his role in persuading world leaders to meet in Washington on November 15 to discuss an overhaul of the global financial system.

Voters also approved of measures announced by Sarkozy to rescue the French banking system, support small and medium companies and protect domestic industry with a new sovereign fund, the pollsters said.

The poll was conducted on November 7-8 among 1,030 people.

Sarkozy's approval ratings have see-sawed since he swept to a convincing victory over Socialist rival Segolene Royal in the May 2007 presidential election.

In his first months in office his popularity soared as voters backed his ambitious reform programme and enjoyed his dynamic style.

But in late 2007 and early 2008, his approval ratings plunged to record lows for a president in his first year in office. In the monthly Viavoice poll, the rating dropped to 37 percent in February.

Voters felt he was devoting too much energy to his whirlwind romance with model-turned-popstar Carla Bruni, whom he married in February, less than three months after they started dating. Sarkozy and his previous wife, Cecilia, had announced their divorce in October 2007.