Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

French President Nicolas Sarkozy's approval ratings have fallen to a record low after a court cleared an old rival of plotting to smear him. PARIS, Feb 3 (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy's approval ratings have fallen to a record low after a court cleared an old rival of plotting to smear him, a poll showed on Feb. 3, only weeks before regional elections in March.

The TNS Sofres poll in conservative daily Le Figaro showed Sarkozy's support ratings fell 1 percentage point from last month to 31 percent, continuing a progressive slide as his reform drive loses steam amid a slew of mishaps.

Last week, in the so-called "Clearstream trial", a court acquitted former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin of trying to implicate Sarkozy in a corruption scandal when they were both cabinet ministers and eyeing the presidency.

Prosecutors have appealed against the verdict, and a separate survey showed many voters believed Sarkozy had a hand in that decision. The president has denied this.

The TNS poll rating is the lowest since Sarkozy won office in 2007, and follows a string of blunders and controversies.

Voters have been unhappy with what was seen as an excessively generous pay package for Henri Proglio, a Sarkozy favourite and head of state-owned utility EDF.

Meanwhile, Sarkozy's flagship policies, such as a "green" tax on carbon dioxide emissions, have floundered and a planned pensions reform could cause further divisions.

Forty-four percent of poll participants said they would want Dominique Strauss-Kahn, a Socialist former finance minister whose role as head of the International Monetary Fund has given him a high profile during the economic crisis, to play a more important role in the future.

For Socialist party leader Martine Aubry, the figure stood at 40 percent, placing her after Strauss-Kahn and Rama Yade, a rebel in Sarkozy's cabinet who is popular with the public but has often clashed with other ministers.

Support for Prime Minister Francois Fillon, whose friction with Sarkozy regularly provides fodder for French media, rose 2 percentage points to 39 percent.

The survey of 1,000 people was carried out on Jan. 29-Feb 1.