France's Hollande defends policies as popularity hits record low

With record low approval ratings as most of his economic promises in tatters, French President Francois Hollande justified his decisions to fix economic troubles and improve the country's social welfare in a fresh attempt to convince discontent public. "...Reduce deficits, support the competitiveness of enterprises, marriage for all, I did that. It is always easier to pass up the deficits. That's what my predecessors did. But me, I have not admitted it," Hollande told the news channel BFMTV. "Whenever I have to make a decision that seems to me necessary for my country, I do not say if it pleases or convinces people, I take it," he added. An ifop poll for the weekly Journal de Dimanche (JDD) showed that the Socialist leader approval ratings fell to a new low of 20 percent in November, showing him as the most unpopular French president. Plagued by rampant unemployment rate, waning growth and pressure to reduce France's public gap, Hollande asked the French people to judge him on his long-term bid to address the country's economic and financial problems.