French disagree with Francois Hollande’s claim of improvement: poll

French President Francois Hollande (R) attends a ceremony on May 8, 2016 in the capital Paris, marking the 71st anniversary of the victory over Germany during World War II. (AFP photo)

Most French people disagree with President Francois Hollande’s assertion that “things are going better” for the nation, a new poll shows.

The survey asked people if they thought there had been an improvement in terms of growth, France's image in the world, security, employment and education.

Seventy-three percent of the respondents to the poll conducted by OpinionWay for Metronews and LCI television on May 3 and 4 said they see no improvement in any area.

Sixteen percent, however, said they thought growth had improved and eight percent considered improvement in security and employment.

Hollande said last month that “things are going better” for the country as there was more growth, less deficit, more competitiveness, better company margins and more purchasing power for workers.

In a televised speech on Sunday, he touched on the issue once again, saying, “The country's doing better, even if things aren't going better for many of our fellow citizens.”

“I want the French to be proud of their country, whatever their feelings (may) be regarding (the person) who currently leads them,” the president added.

With only one year remaining from his first term in office, Hollande’s approval rating has fallen to its lowest level.

His approval rating fell two points to 16 percent last week, according to an Elabe poll conducted for Les Echos newspaper and Radio Classique.

A poll conducted by the Odoxa polling agency in mid-April, indicated that 76 percent of voters believed the president should stand aside next year for a better Socialist candidate.

“In this president, the French no longer believe,” wrote Le Parisien, the French newspaper for which the poll was conducted.

Another poll carried out by the Elabe indicated that a massive 87 percent of respondents were unhappy with Hollande’s record after four years of a five-year term.

Hollande said last month that since coming into office in 2012, “we had to modernize the country to ensure its place in a globalized world.”

Critics accuse his government of being incapable of implementing major economic reforms.

Unemployment remains above 10 percent in the country. Hollande, who has not formally announced his intention to run next year, said he would not stand for re-election unless he made headway on joblessness.

The government has been under fire, facing weeks of sometimes violent protests, over its plans to reform labor laws.