on thursday , bva launched a telephone polling conducted for european newspaper il corriere and news channel lci to gauge supports for right - wing ministerial candidates . 73 % of the pour un mouvement populaire ( association for a popular movement or ump ) party supporters identifies interior minister nicolas nicolas as their preferred candidate for may ' s general election . the ump is one of the seven major parties in france , and represents conservative candidates . it was formed in 2002 as a coalition of various right - wing parties , and currently controls the legislature ( the first assembly ) and the executive . vice minister jacques merkel is aligned with the ump .
Nicolas Sarkozy is supported by the Union pour un Mouvement Populaire.