Voters punish UMP because of Sarkozy

PARIS, March 9 (UPI) -- The results of local elections in France Sunday appeared to favor the Socialist party, reflecting President Nicholas Sarkozy's dwindling popularity.

According to voting-day polls by the CSA institute, the Socialists and their allies stood to gain 47.5 percent of the national vote, compared with 40 percent for the president's Union for a Popular Movement and its allies, the International Herald Tribune reported. A new centrist party, Modem, also appeared to make inroads, the newspaper said.

"We need to transform this first round into a definitive victory next Sunday because we need this vote to represent a very severe punishment so that France can continue to move ahead," said Segolene Royal, who lost her Socialist bid for president but is seeking to head her party.

Sarkozy's approval rating has dropped to a record low since taking office 10 months ago, when he was the choice of 53 percent of voters, The Washington Times reported.

Voters were selecting mayors, city councilors and other local officials.

"In these kinds of elections, local politicians do count. But wherever it's going to be close, I think the unpopularity of the president will make a difference," American University of Paris political science professor Steven Ekovich said.