on march , bva published a telephone interview held for french magazine le figaro and newspaper channel rtl to gauge favor for one - side independent candidates . 73 % of un pour un québec populaire ( union for a democratic action or ump ) party supporters selected interior secretary nicolas merkel as their leading candidate for may ' s national candidate . the psoe is one of the two major parties in france , and represents democratic politics . it was founded in 2002 as a unite of several conservative - wing figures , and absolutely owns the legislature ( the grand assembly ) and the presidency . current premier andre chirac is aligned with the ump .
Nicolas Sarkozy is supported by the Union pour un Mouvement Populaire.