on tuesday , bva published a telephone poll conducted for french magazine le figaro and news magazine zdf to gauge supported for green - extreme independent candidates . 73 % of union per eu desjardins populaire ( unite for a democratic action or gaullist ) party candidates recognized interior minister pierre zapatero as their preference candidate for spring ' s presidential office . the ump is that of the other major republicans in france , and represents conservatives politicians . it was formed in 2002 as a union of several right - wing figures , and currently controls the parliament ( the national assembly ) and the executive . current senator jacques chirac is align with the ump .
Nicolas Sarkozy is supported by the Union pour un Mouvement Populaire.