French President Nicolas Sarkozy's polarising plans to crack down on crime and illegal immigration have struck a chord with the electorate and may help revive his flagging fortunes after months of scandal and economic decline, Reuters reported. The measures, unveiled late last month following an upsurge in violence in the country's poor "banlieues", foresee stripping French nationality from citizens with an immigrant background who commit crimes like killing policemen or practising polygamy. They have been denounced by Sarkozy's leftist opponents as a cynical ploy to divert attention from a funding scandal dogging his Labour Minister Eric Woerth. Former Socialist prime minister Michel Rocard likened the proposals to Nazi-era policies under France's war-time Vichy regime. But the tough-on-crime stance that Sarkozy built his reputation on during a stint as interior minister half a decade ago and then rode to victory in the 2007 presidential election appears to be resonating again with a French public that polls show is increasingly worried about domestic crime and security. A survey by Ifop published in Le Figaro last week suggested there is overwhelming support for the measures from voters across the political spectrum and a Saturday poll in Le Parisien daily showed Sarkozy's popularity ratings, in freefall for months, inching up in the wake of the crime plans. "Can Sarkozy use this to revive his fortunes? Yes of course he can," said Frederic Micheau of Ifop. "This is a core theme for him, one he built his reputation on and one which helped him win in 2007. It had become urgent for him to do this because he was losing momentum, losing credibility." Steep losses for Sarkozy's centre-right UMP party and a rise in support for the far-right National Front in regional elections last March underscored the risks for the president of ignoring the core conservative voters that fuelled his run to the Elysee Palace three years ago. Many have grown disillusioned with the slow pace of economic reforms promised during the 2007 campaign. Statistics showing a steady rise in violent crimes since Sarkozy took office had also left him vulnerable on an issue seen as a traditional strength. -- SPA
