Nicolas Sarkozy unveils series of right-wing social policies

But the conservative incumbent is trying to regain the initiative with reports yesterday now suggesting he could throw down the gauntlet as early as next week. “The date is approaching”, he told Le Figaro.

The proposals included a referendum on whether the unemployed should be allowed to turn down a job or training and keep their benefits. “After training, which will be compulsory, the unemployed person will be obliged to accept the first job offer,” he told the magazine.

Mr Sarkozy also said he would tighten up entry rules for foreigners marrying French citizens, conditioning them on “housing and means”.

Other proposals included more stringent welfare conditions for asylum seekers and transferring immigration hearings to administrative courts from civil ones.

Leaving his economic programme to one side, Mr Sarkozy underlined the importance of “values” in the Figaro interview, with the word appearing on the cover of the weekend supplement.

Dogged by unemployment at a 12-year high of nearly 10 percent, Mr Sarkozy is polled to lose to Mr Hollande in the first round by 30 per cent to 26 per cent, and in the run-off by 60 to 40 per cent.

He stands an outside chance of being knocked out in round one by Miss Le Pen, who is polling between 16 and 20 per cent. He would receive a boost if she fails to find the 500 signatures from mayors or regional councillors she needs to endorse her candidacy, but not enough, as things stand, for re-election.

He hopes the new measures and a series of major rallies to mark his entry into the race will turn the tide.

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