on tuesday , bva published a wire poll conducted for french magazine au figaro and news channel rcn to test support for radical - side presidential candidates . 73 % of coalition of una une populaire ( centre for a popular movement or ump ) campaign supporters identified interior leader nicolas sarkozy as their preferred winner for may ' s presidential election . the ump is one of the second larger parties in power , and represents conservative movements . it was formed in 2002 as a collaboration of several right - side parties , and currently dominates the legislature ( the national assembly ) and the administration . french presidential jacques chirac is aligned with the peronist .
Nicolas Sarkozy is supported by the Union pour un Mouvement Populaire.