Sarkozy uses Facebook as campaign weapon

French President Nicolas Sarkozy began an intense media offensive Monday, with polls suggesting his ruling conservative coalition will suffer a bitter defeat in March regional elections, DPA reported.

Ahead of a 90-minute appearance on national television on Monday evening, Sarkozy urged the French users of Facebook to tune in to the program, which will include a question-and-answer session with 10 French adults chosen by TF1, which is broadcasting the show.

"Do not hesitate to let me know your doubts and the issues that you think I should touch on," Sarkozy wrote on his Facebook page, which counts more than 203,000 fans.

An "Against Nicolas Sarkozy" Facebook page has a little more than 194,000 fans and a page seeking signatures for a "No Sarkozy Day," to be celebrated on March 27, has attracted more than 365,000 members.

The upcoming regional elections are widely seen as a major test for Sarkozy and his stuttering politics of reform.

In 2004, parties of the left won control of 20 of the 22 regions of mainland France. The results were seen as a major setback for Sarkozy's predecessor Jacques Chirac and his prime minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin.