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Paris (AFP) - French President Francois Hollande's approval rating has fallen below 20 percent for the first time since being elected in 2012, a poll published Thursday revealed.

According to the poll from TNS Sofres/Sopra group/Le Figaro magazine, Hollande's rating fell three points to 19 percent, a new low in his popularity, while the proportion of French voters who said they did not trust the president increased by two points to 78 percent.

This was the first poll taken by TNS Sofres since the president's press conference on January 14, which followed in the wake of revelations he was having an affair with actress Julie Gayet.

Since then, Hollande has formally announced his split from Valerie Trierweiler.

Hollande's approval rating compares badly to former French presidents after two years in power.

Jacques Chirac's rating in 1997 stood at 35 percent and Hollande's predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy was at 37 percent in 2009, said TNS Sofres.

In a further poll -- from Les Echos and Radio Classique, also published on Thursday -- Hollande's approval rating stood at 23 percent, a fall of two points