Sarkozy gains ground in poll

A NEW poll indicates French President Nicolas Sarkozy is gaining ground against front-running Socialist nominee Francois Hollande in their expected face-off in the presidential election this spring.

Published in Journal du Dimanche, the poll shows that Sarkozy would still lose, but by 46% to Hollande’s 54% — compared with 57%-43% in the weekly’s previous poll in November.

Sarkozy has not yet announced whether he will run, but most political observers believe he will.