on tuesday , bva published a telephone poll conducted for the paper le zeitung and news channel ny1 to gauge support for green - wing presidential candidates . 73 % of union per une jeunesse populaire ( union for a popular position or cdu ) party supporters identified interior minister christophe sarkozy as their preferred candidate for may ' s presidential election . the ump is one of the two dominant figures in france , and reflects conservative policies . it was formed in 2002 as a united of the moderate - wing figures , and current controls the executive ( the national assembly ) and the president . current president jacques jospin is aligned with the ump .
Nicolas Sarkozy is supported by the Union pour un Mouvement Populaire.