Depardieu shows support for UMP

VETERAN French actor Gérard Depardieu has revealed that he is supporting Nicolas Sarkozy's campaign for the upcoming 2012 presidential elections.

He spoke from the stage at a key political rally in Villepinte on Sunday.

"Since my friend Nicolas Sarkozy came to power, I only hear bad things about this man who does nothing but good," he said to applause.

He also called the head of state a "sincere and honest" man.

"Everyone knows that mistakes made by Sarkozy in the first three of his five years have been made up for. It is without doubt that I will vote for him."

This is not the first time the actor has suppported the UMP candidate. Originally supporting the left, the actor made his defection known in 2007 when he made his return to the political scene.