PARIS (AP) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy's approval rating has sunk to its lowest level yet, a poll reported Sunday, as protests over his pension reforms left the country struggling with gas shortages, travel chaos and school shutdowns.
Despite raids by riot police last week to force open refineries blocked by striking workers, France's 12 refineries were blocked again Sunday, as were ports in Marseille and Le Havre, where dozens of tankers are still anchored, waiting to unload.
The poll, published in the Journal du Dimanche newspaper, showed that only 29 percent of those surveyed were satisfied with Sarkozy's performance. That was down 3 percent from September and was the French leader's lowest rating since taking office in 2007. It was also among the lowest approval ratings of any French president in recent memory, the newspaper said.
The survey of 1,828 people was conducted in person and by telephone by the Ifop polling agency from Oct. 14-22. No margin of error was given. .............(more)
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