PARIS - FRENCH President Nicolas Sarkozy's response to the financial crisis has prompted a sharp revival in his popularity, according to an opinion poll released on Sunday.

The proportion of respondents satisfied with Mr Sarkozy rose eight points in a month to 48 per cent, flirting with the 50 per cent mark for the first time since January, the Viavoice poll for Monday's Liberation newspaper showed. Those with a negative opinion of Mr Sarkozy represented 50 per cent of those polled.

Viavoice attributed the change to Mr Sarkozy's determined stance in tackling the financial crisis, including his role in persuading world leaders to meet in Washington on Nov 15 to discuss an overhaul of the global financial system.

Voters also approved of measures announced by Mr Sarkozy to rescue the French banking system, support small and medium companies and protect domestic industry with a new sovereign fund, the pollsters said.

The poll was conducted on Nov 7-8 among 1,030 people.

Mr Sarkozy's approval ratings have see-sawed since he swept to a convincing victory over Socialist rival Segolene Royal in the May 2007 presidential election.

In his first months in office his popularity soared as voters backed his ambitious reform programme and enjoyed his dynamic style.

But in late 2007 and early 2008, his approval ratings plunged to record lows for a president in his first year in office. In the monthly Viavoice poll, the rating dropped to 37 per cent in February.

Voters felt he was devoting too much energy to his whirlwind romance with model-turned-popstar Carla Bruni, whom he married in February, less than three months after they started dating.

Mr Sarkozy and his previous wife, Cecilia, had announced their divorce in October 2007.

The polls also found that voters felt Mr Sarkozy was not doing enough to boost their purchasing power, and was living too ostentatiously at a time of economic slowdown when many ordinary French workers were suffering. -- REUTERS