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Paris: Just one year into his five-year mandate, most French people hope President Nicolas Sarkozy will not seek a second term, according to a survey published on Friday.
The CSA survey is the latest in a series of dismal opinion polls for Sarkozy, who marks the first anniversary of his election victory next week.
The poll, published in the left-wing Marianne weekly, said 55 per cent of voters hoped he would not stand for a second term and 62 per cent expected an unspecified crisis before his current one expires in 2012.
Elected triumphantly on a promise to overhaul the French economy and reward those prepared to work hard, Sarkozy has seen his approval ratings tumble from highs of around 65 per cent in September to a low of 32 per cent.
Economic downturn
Initially hit by disapproval of his sometimes brash personal style and highly public romance with former top model Carla Bruni, who is now his wife, Sarkozy's ratings have been further weakened by worries about the economy as the soaring cost of living has started to bite.
The main consumer confidence indicator has fallen to its lowest level since the national statistics office began reporting the figure more than 20 years ago and unions are planning a wave of protests against planned pension reforms.
The survey of 1,002 people also found 64 per cent of people thought society would be more divided.
A separate CSA poll in the daily Le Parisien showed the proportion of people expressing confidence in Sarkozy fell two points to 38 per cent, while those expressing no confidence rose three points to 57 per cent.
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