Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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March 9, 2008

French Vote in Local Elections Seen as Referendum on Sarkozy
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1B7CB43:A6F02AD83191E160725ED874F17F0B4B21A4E82C900CD027& French vote in
37,000 cities, towns and villages in local elections may reflect
grievances against presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy  French voters are
going to the polls in the first round of local elections today/Sunday
that are widely expected to punish the conservative party of President
Nicolas Sarkozy. Lisa Bryant has more on the vote from Paris.







Conservative Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) candidate for Paris
municipal election Francoise de Panafieu casts her vote in Paris, 09
Mar 2008 Local positions in nearly 37,000 cities, towns and villages
across France are up for grabs in the local elections, with the second
round, a run-off, scheduled for March 16. In many ways, the election
is on purely local issues and candidates. But pundits like Steven
Ekovich at the American University of Paris believe French voters may
also air their grievances against President Nicolas Sarkozy at the
ballot box, hurting his ruling Union for a Popular Movement, or UMP.

"I think it's mostly going to be, and I'll underline the word
'mostly,' a kind of referendum on the presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy,"
he said. "I say mostly because local politicians for these kinds of
elections do count, after all. But wherever it's going to be close, I
think that the unpopuarity of the president will make a difference."

Mr. Sarkozy presented himself as a fresh and energetic face last April
when he was elected to office. But his popularity faded swiftly
apparently over a series of unpopular reforms, the faltering economy,
and the president's own abrasive personality. A poll published last
Wednesday gave him only 38 percent support.

Mr. Sarkozy is even vulnerable on his home turf - the rich Paris
suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine. Mr. Sarkozy's son, Jean, reportedly
forced the presidential spokesman David Martignon to withdraw from the
mayoral race, leaving the outcome there uncertain.

Still it is far from certain whether the president will pay a heavy
price at the polls. A survey last week found that two-thirds of the
electorate say they will vote based on local issues.




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