Unpopularity of France’s Hollande, Valls sets new record

The unpopularity of French President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Manuel Valls has set a new record, according to a survey revealed on Thursday by French network iTele.

The survey shows that Hollande is supported by only 11 percent of the population, five points less than in May and the lowest rate since the research firm YouGov started taking polls on the French leader in November 2012.

The French president is supported by only 3 percent of the proconservative Republican Party, three points less than the previous month, and 36 percent of socialists and environmentalists, a fourpoint drop.

Amid citizens’ opposition to labor reforms, the popularity of Valls has fallen by eight points to 14 percent.

The prime minister is supported by 35 percent of socialists and ecologists, a fall of 12 points, while his popularity grew among conservatives to reach 13 percent, a threepoint increase.

The survey suggests that more than 33 percent of French citizens believe the government is willing to take unpopular decisions if they are good for the country, while 26 percent think the government adopts “a clear method” which does not change.