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| − | [[image:Jacques Chirac.jpg|thumb|Jacques Chirac]]
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| − | '''Jacques René Chirac''' (born November 29, 1932) served as the President of France from May 17, 1995 until May 16, 2007. As President he also served as an ''ex officio'' Co-Prince of [[Andorra]] and Grand Master of the French [[Légion d'honneur]]. After completing his studies of the [[DEA (former French degree)|DEA]]'s degree at the [[Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris]] and the [[École Nationale d'Administration]], Chirac began his career as a high-level [[civil servant]], and soon entered [[politics]]. He subsequently occupied various senior positions, including [[Minister of Agriculture (France)|Minister of Agriculture]], [[Prime Minister of France|Prime Minister]], [[Mayor of Paris]], and finally President of France. Chirac was the second-longest serving President of France (two full terms, first seven years and second five), behind [[François Mitterrand]]. He and his predecessor were also the only presidents to serve two full terms in the [[Élysée Palace]]. Chirac is the only person to have served twice as Prime Minister under the [[French Fifth Republic|Fifth Republic]].
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| − | His internal policies included lower [[tax]] rates, the removal of [[price controls]], strong punishment for [[crime]] and [[terrorism]], and business [[privatization]]. He has also argued for more socially responsible [[economic policies]], and was elected in 1995 after campaigning on a platform of healing the "social rift" ''(fracture sociale)''. His [[economics|economic]] policies, based on ''[[dirigiste]]'', state directed ideals, stood in opposition to the ''[[laissez-faire]]'' policies of the [[United Kingdom]], which Chirac famously described as "[[Anglosphere|Anglo-Saxon]] [[ultraliberalism]]". In 2003, he opposed the invasion of Iraq, threatening to use his veto in the [[United Nations]]. Subsequently, the [[United States]] led invasion proceeded without an explicit UN mandate. Corruption allegations cloud his legacy, dating from his eighteen years as Mayor of Paris. His economic policies were not markedly successful, with unemployment rising during his term. His opposition to the [[Iraq War|war in Iraq]], however, boosted his flagging popularity. Championing [[diplomacy]], he also argued strongly that the UN not the US should take the lead in post-war nation building and reconstruction.
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| − | ==Family==
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| − | Chirac, born in the [[Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire|Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire]] clinic (fifth district of [[Paris]]), is the son of Abel François Chirac (1893–1968), a company administrator, and Marie-Louise Valette (1902–1973), a housewife. Both families were of [[peasant]] stock - despite the fact his two grandfathers were teachers - from [[Sainte-Féréole]] in [[Corrèze]]. According to Chirac, his name "originates from the [[langue d'oc]], that of the troubadours, therefore that of poetry." He is a [[Roman Catholic]].
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| − | Chirac was an only child (his elder sister, Jacqueline, died in infancy before his birth), and was educated in [[Paris]] at the [[Lycée Carnot]] and at the [[Lycée Louis-le-Grand]]. After his [[baccalauréat]], he did a three month stint as a sailor on a coal-transporting ship.
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| − | In 1956, he married [[Bernadette Chodron de Courcel]], with whom he later had two daughters; Laurence (born March 4, 1958) and Claude (January 14, 1962). Claude Chirac has long worked as a [[public relations]] assistant and personal adviser,<ref name=b>Laurenson, John. 2002. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/europe/europetoday/letters/020321_jlaurenson.shtml BBC World Service: "Letter from Paris - John Laurenson on Claude Chirac's crucial but understated electoral role."] [[BBC]]. Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref> while Laurence, who suffered from [[anorexia nervosa]] in her youth, does not participate in the political activities of her father. Chirac is the grandfather of Martin Rey-Chirac by the relationship of Claude with French [[judoka]] [[Thierry Rey]].
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| − | Jacques and Bernadette Chirac have also a foster daughter, [[Anh Dao Traxel]].
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| − | ==Early political career (1950s–1973)==
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| − | Inspired by General [[Charles de Gaulle]] to enter public life, Chirac continued pursuing a civil service career in the 1950s. During this period, he joined the [[French Communist Party]]. He sold copies of ''[[L'Humanité]]'', and took part in meetings of a communist cell. In 1950, he signed the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]]-inspired [[Stockholm Appeal]] for the abolition of [[nuclear weapons]]–enough for him to be questioned when he applied for his first visa to the [[United States]]. In 1953, after graduating from [[Sciences Po]], he attended [[Harvard University]]'s summer school before entering the [[École Nationale d'Administration]] (ENA), the elite, competitive-entrance college that trains France's top civil servants, in 1957.
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| − | Chirac trained as a reserve officer in armored [[cavalry]] at [[Saumur]], from which he was ranked first among his year's students. He then volunteered for fighting in the [[Algerian War]], using personal relations to be sent there despite the reservations of his superiors, who suspected him of Communism and did not want to make him an officer.
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| − | After leaving ENA in 1959, he became a civil servant in the prestigious Court of Auditors and rose rapidly through the ranks. As early as April 1962, Chirac was appointed head of the personal staff of Prime Minister [[Georges Pompidou]]. This appointment launched Chirac's political career.
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| − | Pompidou considered Chirac his [[protégé]] and referred to him as "my bulldozer" for his skill at getting things done. The nickname "Le Bulldozer" caught on in French political circles. Chirac still maintains this reputation. At Pompidou's suggestion, Chirac ran as a [[Gaullist]] for a seat in the [[French National Assembly|National Assembly]] in 1967. He was elected deputy for [[Corrèze]] ''[[département in France|département]]'', the place of his family's origin but a stronghold of the left. This surprising victory in the context of a Gaullist ebb permitted him to enter the government as state secretary (vice-minister) of social affairs. Although more of a "Pompidolian" than a "Gaullist," Chirac was well-situated in de Gaulle's entourage, being related by marriage to the general's sole companion at the time of the [[Appeal of 18 June]] 1940.
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| − | In 1968, when student and worker [[General strike|strike]]s rocked France (see May 1968), Chirac played a central role in negotiating a truce. Then, as state secretary of economy (1968-1971), he had worked closely with [[Valéry Giscard d'Estaing]], who headed the ministry of economy and finance. The young [[Technocracy (bureaucratic)|technocrat]] from ENA then rose to fame; [[Obelix and Co.#Trivia|Chirac was caricatured]] as the archetypal brilliant ENA graduate in an ''[[Asterix]]'' graphic novel. After some months in the ministry of relations with Parliament, Chirac's first high-level post came in 1972 when he became minister of [[agriculture]] and rural development under his mentor Georges Pompidou, who had been elected president in 1969. Chirac quickly earned a reputation as a champion of French farmers' interests. As minister of agriculture, Chirac first attracted international attention when he assailed [[United States of America|U.S.]], [[West Germany|West German]], and [[European Commission]] agricultural policies that conflicted with French interests. On February 27, 1974, after the resignation of [[Raymond Marcellin]], Chirac was appointed [[Minister of the Interior (France)|Minister of the Interior]]. On March 21, 1974 the [[SAFARI]] affair (a secret database containing personal information prepared under the responsibility of the ministry of the interior) was revealed by the newspaper [[Le Monde]]. From March 1974, he was entrusted by President Pompidou with preparations for the presidential election then scheduled for 1976. However, these elections were brought forward because of Pompidou's sudden death on 2 April.
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| − | Chirac wanted to rally Gaullists behind Prime minister [[Pierre Messmer]], yet this was to be all in vain. [[Jacques Chaban-Delmas]] announced his candidacy, in spite of the disapproval of the "Pompidolians." Chirac and others published the ''call of the 43'' in favor of Giscard d'Estaing, the leader of the non-Gaullist part of the parliamentary majority. Giscard d'Estaing was elected as Pompidou's successor after France's most competitive election campaign in years. In return, the new president chose Chirac to lead the cabinet.
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| − | ==Prime Minister, 1974–76==
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| − | When [[Valéry Giscard d'Estaing|Giscard]] became president, he nominated Chirac as [[Prime Minister of France|prime minister]] on 27 May 1974 in order to reconcile the "Giscardian" and "non-Giscardian" factions of the parliamentary majority. At the relatively young age of 41, Chirac stood out as the very model of the ''jeunes loups'' ("young wolves") of French political life. But he was faced with the hostility of the "Barons of Gaullism" who considered him a traitor for his role during the previous presidential campaign. In December 1974, he took the lead of the Gaullist party [[Gaullist Party|Union of Democrats for the Republic]] (UDR) against the will of its more senior personalities.
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| − | As prime minister, Chirac quickly set about persuading the Gaullists that, despite the social reforms proposed by President Giscard, the basic tenets of Gaullism, such as national and European independence, would be retained.
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| − | Chirac was advised by [[Pierre Juillet]] and [[Marie-France Garaud]], two former advisers of Pompidou. These two organized the campaign against Chaban-Delmas in 1974. They advocated a clash with Giscard d'Estaing because they thought his policy bewildered the conservative electorate. Citing Giscard's unwillingness to give him authority, Chirac resigned as Prime Minister in 1976. He proceeded to build up his political base among France's several conservative parties, with a goal of reconstituting the Gaullist UDR into a neo-Gaullist group, the [[Gaullist Party|Rally for the Republic]] (RPR).
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| − | ===Osirak Controversy===
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| − | In December 1974, [[Saddam Hussein]] (then [[vice-president]] of [[Iraq]], but ''[[de facto]]'' dictator) invited Chirac to Baghdad for an official visit. Chirac accepted and visited Iraq in 1975. Saddam Hussein approved a deal granting French oil companies a number of privileges plus a 23 per cent share of Iraqi oil.<ref name=h>Taheri, Amir. 2002. [http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-taheri110402.asp The Chirac Doctrine: France’s Iraq-war plan.] National Review Online. Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref> In a declaration on September 5, 1974, Chirac said about [[Saddam Hussein]]:
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| − | <blockquote>''Vous êtes mon ami personnel. Vous êtes assuré de mon estime, de ma considération et de mon affection.''<br/>(You are my personal friend. Let me assure you of my esteem, consideration and bond.)<ref name=i>Aeschimann, Eric, and Christophe Boltanski. 2006. ''Chirac d'Arabie: les mirages d'une politique française''. Paris, FR: Grasset. ISBN2246691214. page 64.</ref></blockquote>
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| − | As part of this deal, France sold Iraq the [[Osirak]] MTR [[nuclear reactor]], a type designed to test nuclear materials. The [[Israeli Air Force]] later bombed the Osirak reactor, provoking considerable anger from French officials and the United Nations Security Council. The facility's intended use as a basis for nuclear weapons was confirmed after the 1991 [[Gulf War]].<ref>Glenn, Joshua. 2003. [http://www.boston.com/news/packages/iraq/globe_stories/030203_chirac.htm Rebuilding Iraq: Chirac's other Iraq policy.] ''The Boston Globe.'' Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref> The controversy took place in the years 2002-2003, when the United States decided to invade Iraq. France, with other western countries, led an effort to prevent such an invasion. The Osirak deal, made at a time when all western countries were doing business with Iraq, including and most notably the United States, was then used by the propaganda campaign led by a large part of the American media, favoring the Iraq invasion.
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| − | ==Mayor of Paris (1977−1995)==
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| − | After his departure from the cabinet, Chirac wanted to take the leadership over the right in order to gain the presidency. The RPR was conceived as an electoral machine against President Giscard d'Estaing. Paradoxically, Chirac benefited from Giscard's decision to create the office of mayor in Paris, which had been in abeyance since the 1871 [[Paris Commune|Commune]], because the leaders of the [[French Third Republic|Third Republic]] (1871-1940) feared that having municipal control of the capital would give the mayor too much power. In 1977, Chirac stood as candidate against [[Michel d'Ornano]], a close friend of the president, and he won. As mayor of Paris, Chirac's political influence grew. He held this post until 1995.
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| − | Chirac supporters point out that, as mayor, he provided programs to help the elderly, people with disabilities, and single mothers, while providing incentives for businesses to stay in Paris. His opponents contend that he installed [[clientelist]] policies, and favored office buildings at the expense of housing, driving rents high and worsening the situation of workers.
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| − | Chirac has been named in several cases of alleged [[Political corruption|corruption]] that occurred during his term as mayor, some of which have led to felony convictions of some politicians and aides. However, a controversial judicial decision in 1999 granted Chirac immunity while he was president of France. He refused to testify on these matters, arguing that it would be incompatible with his presidential functions. Investigations concerning the running of Paris's city hall, the number of whose municipal employees jumped by 25 percent from 1977 to 1995 (with 2000 out of approximately 35000 coming from the [[Corrèze]] region where Chirac held his seat as deputy), as well as a lack of transparency concerning accounts of public sales ''(marchés publics)'' or of the communal debt, were thwarted by the legal impossibility of questioning him as president. The conditions of the [[privatization]] of the Parisian water network, acquired very cheaply by the [[Générale]] and the [[Lyonnaise des Eaux]], then directed by [[Jérôme Monod]], a close friend of Chirac, were also criticized. Furthermore, the satirical newspaper ''[[Le Canard enchaîné]]'' revealed the high amount of "food expenses" paid by the Parisian municipality (€15 million a year according to the ''Canard''), expenses managed by [[Roger Romani]] (who allegedly destroyed all archives of the period 1978–1993 during night raids in 1999-2000). Thousands of people were invited each year to receptions in the Paris city hall, while many political, media and artistic personalities were hosted in private flats owned by the city.
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| − | [[Image:chirac2.GIF|thumb|Chirac during the press conference of the closing down of the [[Renault]] factory in [[Vilvoorde]] ([[Belgium]]) in 1997 Chirac's immunity from prosecution ended when he left office and, in November 2007, a preliminary charge of misuse of public funds was filed against him.<ref>Lichfield, John. 2007. [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/chirac-faces-investigation-into-misuse-of-public-cash-759026.html Chirac faces investigation into 'misuse of public cash.] ''The Independent.'' Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref> Chirac is said to be the first former French head of state to be formally placed under investigation for a crime.
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| − | ==Struggle for the right-wing leadership==
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| − | In 1978, he attacked the [[pro-European]] policy of [[Valéry Giscard d'Estaing]] (VGE), and made a [[nationalist]] turn with the December 1978 [[Call of Cochin]], initiated by his counselors [[Marie-France Garaud]] and [[Pierre Juillet]], which had first been called by Pompidou. Hospitalized in Cochin hospital after a crash, he then declared that "as always about the drooping of France, the pro-foreign party acts with its peaceable and reassuring voice." Furthermore, he appointed [[Ivan Blot]], an intellectual who would join later, for some time, the [[National Front (France)|National Front]], as director of his campaigns for the [[European Parliament elections, 1979|1979 European election]].<ref name="Slama">Slama, Alain-Gérard. 2006. Vous avez dit bonapartiste? ''L'Histoire''. 313:60-63.</ref> After the poor results of the election, Chirac broke with Garaud and Juillet. Nevertheless, the already-established rivalry with Giscard d'Estaing became even more intense. Although it has been often interpreted by historians as the struggle between two rivals French right-wing family, the [[Bonapartist]] one, represented by Chirac, and the [[Orleanist]] one, represented by VGE, both figures in fact were member of the [[Liberalism|Liberal]], Orleanist tradition, according to historian Alain-Gérard Slama.<ref name="Slama"/> But the eviction of the Gaullist Barons and of President VGE convinced Chirac to assume a strong neo-Gaullist stance.
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| − | Chirac made his first run for president against Giscard d'Estaing in the [[French presidential election, 1981|1981 election]], thus splitting the centre-right vote. He was eliminated in the first round (18 percent) then, he reluctantly supported Giscard in the second round. He refused to give instructions to the RPR voters but said that he supported the incumbent president "in a private capacity," which was almost like a ''de facto'' support of the [[French Socialist Party|Socialist Party]]'s (PS) candidate, [[François Mitterrand]], who was elected by a broad majority.
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| − | Giscard has always blamed Chirac for his defeat. He was told by Mitterrand, before his death, that the latter had dined with Chirac before the election. Chirac told the Socialist candidate that he wanted to "get rid of Giscard." In his memoirs, Giscard wrote that between the two rounds, he phoned the RPR headquarters. He passed himself off as a right-wing voter by changing his voice. The RPR employee advised him "certainly do not vote Giscard!." After 1981, the relationship between the two men became somewhat tense, with Giscard, even though he was in the same government coalition as Chirac, taking opportunities to criticize Chirac's actions.
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| − | After the May 1981 presidential election, the right also lost the same year the [[French legislative election, 1981|legislative election]]. However, Giscard being knocked out, Chirac appeared as the leader of the right-wing opposition. Due to his protest against the economic policy of the Socialist government, he progressively aligned himself with the prevailing liberal opinions, even if these did not correspond with the Gaullist doctrine. While the far-right [[National Front]] grew, taking in particular advantage of a [[proportional representation]] electoral law, he signed an electoral platform with the Giscardian (and more or less Christian Democrat) party [[Union for French Democracy]] (UDF).
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| − | ==First "Cohabitation" (1986–1988) and "desert crossing"==
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| − | When the RPR/UDF right-wing coalition won a slight majority in the National Assembly in the [[French legislative election, 1986|1986 election]], Mitterrand (PS) appointed Chirac prime minister (though many in Mitterrand's inner circle lobbied him to choose [[Jacques Chaban-Delmas]] instead). This inedit power-sharing arrangement, known as [[cohabitation (government)|cohabitation]], gave Chirac the lead in domestic affairs. However, it is generally conceded that Mitterrand used the areas granted to the President of the Republic, or "reserved domains" of the Presidency, defense and foreign affairs, to belittle his Prime Minister.
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| − | ===Chirac's Second Ministry ===
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| − | (March 20 1986–May 12 1988)
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| − | *Jacques Chirac - Prime Minister
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| − | *[[Jean-Bernard Raimond]] - Minister of Foreign Affairs
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| − | *[[André Giraud]] - Minister of Defense
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| − | *[[Charles Pasqua]] - Minister of the Interior
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| − | *[[Édouard Balladur]] - Minister of Economy, Finance, and Privatization
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| − | *[[Alain Madelin]] - Minister of Industry, Tourism, Posts, and Telecommunications
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| − | *[[Philippe Séguin]] - Minister of Employment and Social Affairs
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| − | *[[Albin Chalandon]] - Minister of Justice
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| − | *[[René Monory]] - Minister of National Education
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| − | *[[François Léotard]] - Minister of Culture and Communications
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| − | *[[François Guillaume]] - Minister of Agriculture
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| − | *[[Bernard Pons]] - Minister of Overseas Departments and Territories
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| − | *[[Pierre Méhaignerie]] - Minister of Housing, Equipment, Regional Planning, and Transport
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| − | *[[André Rossinot]] - Minister of Relations with Parliament
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| − | *[[Michel Aurillac]] - Minister of Cooperation
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| − | Chirac's cabinet sold a lot of public companies, renewing with the [[liberalization]] initiated under [[Laurent Fabius]]'s Socialist government (1984-86 - in particular with Fabius' privatization of the audiovisual sector, leading to the creation of [[Canal +]]), and abolished the [[solidarity tax on wealth]] (ISF), a symbolic tax on very high resources decided by Mitterrand's government. Elsewhere, the plan for university reform (plan Devaquet) caused a crisis in 1986 when a young man named [[Malik Oussekine]] was killed by the police, leading to huge demonstrations and the proposal's withdrawal. It has been said during other student crises that this event strongly affected Jacques Chirac, hereafter careful about possible [[police violence]] during such demonstrations (i.e. maybe explaining part of the decision to "promulgate without applying" the [[First Employment Contract]] (CPE) after [[2006 labor protests in France|large students demonstrations against it]]).
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| − | One of his first act concerning foreign policies was to invite back to affairs [[Jacques Foccart]] (1913-1997), who had been de Gaulle's and his successors' leading counselor for African matters, called by journalist [[Stephen Smith]] the "father of all "networks" on the continent, at the time [in 1986] aged 72."<ref name="Smith">Smith, Stephen. 2006. Naufrage de la [[Françafrique]] — Le président a poursuivi une politique privilégiant les hommes forts au pouvoir. ''L'Histoire''. 313:70 (special issue on Chirac).</ref> Jacques Foccart, who had also co-founded the Gaullist ''[[Service d'Action Civique]]'' (SAC, dissolved by Mitterrand in 1982) along with Charles Pasqua, and who was a key component of the "Françafrique" system, was again called to the Elysée Palace when Chirac won the 1995 presidential election.
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| − | Furthermore, confronted by [[anti-colonialism|anti-colonialist movements]] in [[New Caledonia]], Prime minister Chirac ordered a military intervention against the separatists in the Ouvéa cave, leading to several tragic deaths.
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| − | He allegedly refused any alliance with the [[National Front]], the far-right party of [[Jean-Marie Le Pen]].<ref>de Quetteville, Harry. 2002. [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/04/24/1019441263037.html Chirac labels 'racist' Le Pen as threat to nation's soul.] ''The Age.'' Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref>
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| − | ===1988 presidential elections and afterwards===
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| − | Chirac sought the presidency and ran against Mitterrand for a second time in the [[French presidential election, 1988|1988 election]]. He obtained 20 percent of the vote in the first round, but lost the second with only 46 percent. He resigned from the cabinet and the right lost the [[French legislative election, 1988|next legislative election]].
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| − | For the first time, his leadership over the RPR was challenged. [[Charles Pasqua]] and [[Philippe Séguin]] criticized his abandonment of Gaullist doctrines. On the right, a new generation of politicians, the "renovation men," accused Chirac and Giscard of being responsible for the electoral defeats. In 1992, convinced a man could not became President in advocating anti-European policies, he called to vote "yes" in the referendum on [[Maastricht Treaty]], against the opinion of Pasqua, Séguin and a majority of the RPR voters, who chosen the "no."
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| − | While he still was mayor of Paris (since 1977), Chirac went to [[Abidjan]] (Côte d'Ivoire) where he supported [[Félix Houphouët-Boigny|President Houphouët-Boigny]] (1960-1993), although the latter was being called a "thief" by the local population. Chirac then declared that [[multipartism]] was a "kind of luxury."<ref name="Smith"/>
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| − | Nevertheless, the right won the [[French legislative election, 1993|1993 legislative election]]. Chirac announced that he did not want to come back as prime minister, suggesting the appointment of [[Edouard Balladur]], who had promised that he would not run for the presidency against Chirac in 1995. However, benefiting from positive polls, Balladur decided to be a presidential candidate, with the support of a majority of right-wing politicians. Chirac broke at that time with a number of friends and allies, including Charles Pasqua, [[Nicolas Sarkozy]], etc., who supported Balladur's candidacy. A small group of "fidels" would remain with him, including [[Alain Juppé]] and [[Jean-Louis Debré]]. When Nicolas Sarkozy became President in 2007, Juppé was one of the only "chiraquiens" to serve in François Fillon's government.
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| − | ==First term as president (1995–2002)==
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| − | During the [[French presidential election, 1995|1995 presidential campaign]] Chirac criticized the "sole thought" ''([[pensée unique]])'' represented by his challenger on the right and promised to reduce the "social fracture," placing himself more to the center and thus forcing Balladur to [[radical]]ize himself. Ultimately, he obtained more votes than Balladur in the first round (20.8 percent), and then defeated the [[Socialist Party (France)|Socialist]] candidate [[Lionel Jospin]] in the second round (52.6 percent).
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| − | Chirac was elected on a platform of [[tax]] cuts and job programs, but his policies did little to ease the labor strikes during his first months in office. On the domestic front, neo-liberal economic austerity measures introduced by Chirac and his conservative prime minister [[Alain Juppé]], including budgetary cutbacks, proved highly unpopular. At about the same time, it became apparent that Juppé and others had obtained preferential conditions for public housing, as well as other perks. At the year's end Chirac faced [[1995 strikes in France|major workers' strikes]] which turned itself, in November-December 1995, in a [[general strike]], one of the largest since May 1968. The demonstrations were largely pitted against Juppé's plan on the reform of pensions, and led to the dismissal of the latter.
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| − | Shortly after taking office, Chirac, undaunted by international protests by environmental groups, insisted upon the resumption of [[nuclear weapons and France|nuclear tests at Mururoa Atoll]] in [[French Polynesia]] in 1995, a few months before signing the [[Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty]]. Reacting to criticism, Chirac pointed out that when France set out rearming itself in 1935, this attracted criticism but proved essential in the light of subsequent events. On February 1, 1996, Chirac announced that France had ended "once and for all" its nuclear testing, intending to accede to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
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| − | Elected as President of the Republic, he refused to discuss the existence of French military bases in [[Africa]], despite requests by the Ministry of Defense and the ''[[Quai d'Orsay]]'' (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).<ref name="Smith" /> French Army thus remained in Côte d'Ivoire as well as in [[Omar Bongo]]'s [[Gabon]].
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| − | In 1997, Chirac dissolved parliament for early legislative elections in a gamble designed to bolster support for his conservative economic program. But instead, it created an uproar, and his power was weakened by the subsequent backlash. The Socialist Party (PS), joined by other parties on the left, soundly defeated Chirac's [[conservative]] allies, forcing Chirac into a new period of [[cohabitation (government)|cohabitation]] with Jospin as prime minister (1997-2002), which lasted five years.
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| − | Cohabitation significantly weakened the power of Chirac's presidency. The French president, by a [[constitutional convention (political custom)|constitutional convention]], only controls foreign and military policy— and even then, allocation of funding is under the control of Parliament and under the significant influence of the prime minister. Short of dissolving parliament and calling for new elections, the president was left with little power to influence public policy regarding crime, the economy, and public services. Chirac seized the occasion to periodically criticize Jospin's government.
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| − | Nevertheless, his position was weakened by [[Corruption scandals in the Paris region|scandals about the financing of RPR by Paris municipality]]. In 2001, the left, represented by [[Bertrand Delanoë]] (PS), won over the majority in the town council of the capital. [[Jean Tiberi]], Chirac's successor at the Paris town hall, was forced to resign after having been put under investigations in June 1999 on charges of ''trafic d'influences'' in the HLMs of Paris affairs (related to the illegal financing of the RPR). Tiberi was finally expelled from the [[Rally for the Republic|RPR]], Chirac's party, on October 12, 2000, declaring to the ''[[Le Figaro|Figaro magazine]]'' on November 18, 2000: "Jacques Chirac is not my friend anymore.<ref>Rien ne va plus entre Chirac et Tiberi. ''Le Figaro'', November 18, 2000.</ref>" After the publication of the [[Jean-Claude Méry|Méry video-tape]] by ''[[Le Monde]]'' on September 22, 2000, in which Jean-Claude Méry, in charge of the RPR's financing, directly accused Chirac of organizing the network, and of having been physically present on October 5, 1986, when Méry gave in cash 5 millions [[Franc]]s, which came from companies who had benefited from state deals, to [[Michel Roussin]], personal secretary ''(directeur de cabinet)'' of Chirac,<ref>Daley, Suzanne. 2000. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9904E4D6113BF931A1575AC0A9669C8B63 Aide's Videotaped Confession Ties Chirac to Slush Fund.] ''New York Times.'' Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref> Chirac refused to follow up his summons by judge [[Eric Halphen]], and the highest echelons of the French justice declared that he could not been inculpated while in functions.
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| − |
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| − | During his two terms, he increased the Elysee Palace's total budget by 105 percent (currently €90 million, whereas 20 years ago it was the equivalent of [[€]]43.7 million). He doubled the number of presidential cars - nowadays there are 61 cars and seven scooters in the Palace's garage. He has hired 145 extra employees - the total number of the people he employed simultaneously was 963. He has spent €1 million per year on drinks purchased for guests visiting the Palace.
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| − |
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| − | ===Defense policy===
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| − | As the Supreme Commander of the French armed forces, he has reduced the French military budget, as did his predecessor. It now accounts for three percent of [[GDP]].<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2034rank.html CIA - The World Factbook - Rank Order - Military expenditures - percent of GDP.] CIA. 2008. Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref> In 1998 the aircraft carrier [[Clemenceau]] was decommissioned after 37 years of service, and another aircraft carrier was decommissioned two years later after 37 years of service, leaving the French Navy with no aircraft carrier until 2001, when [[Charles de Gaulle (R 91)|Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier]] was commissioned.<ref>[http://www.netmarine.net/bat/porteavi/cdg/index.htm Porte-avions Charles de Gaulle.] Net Marine. Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref> He has also reduced expenditures on nuclear weapons<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/france/nuke.htm Nuclear Weapons - France Nuclear Forces.] Global Security.org. Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref> and the French nuclear arsenal now includes 350 warheads, which can be compared to the Russian nuclear arsenal that consists of 16000 warheads.<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/summary.htm Worldwide Nuclear Forces.] Global Secuiryt.org. Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref> He has also published a plan which assumes reducing the number of fighters the French military has by 30.
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| − |
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| − | ==Second term as president (2002–2007)==
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| − |
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| − | At the age of 69, Chirac faced his fourth presidential campaign in 2002. He was the first choice of fewer than one in five voters in the first round of voting of the [[French presidential elections, 2002|presidential elections]] in April 2002. It had been expected that he would face incumbent prime minister [[Lionel Jospin]] (PS) in the second round of elections; instead, Chirac faced controversial [[far right]] politician [[Jean-Marie Le Pen]] of [[National Front (France)|National Front]] (FN), and so won re-election by a landslide (82 percent); all parties outside the National Front (except for ''[[Lutte ouvrière]]'') had called for opposing Le Pen, even if it meant voting for Chirac. Slogans such as "vote for the crook, not for the fascist" or "vote with a clothespin on your nose" appeared, while huge demonstrations marked the period between the two electoral rounds in all of France.
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| − |
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| − | ===Unpopularity===
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| − | Chirac became increasingly unpopular during his second term. According to a July 2005 poll,<ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=aXp5XEjdZ3_k&refer Chirac Popularity Plunges to Record Low, Poll Shows.] Bloomberg. Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref> 32 percent judged Chirac favorably and 63 percent unfavorably. In 2006, ''[[The Economist]]'' wrote that Chirac "is the most unpopular occupant of the Elysée Palace in the fifth republic's history."<ref name="economistneeds">[http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8080753 What France needs.] ''The Economist.'' Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref>
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| − |
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| − | ===Early term===
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| − | As the [[left-wing]] Socialist Party was in thorough disarray following Jospin's defeat, Chirac reorganized politics on the [[right-wing|right]], establishing a new party — initially called the Union of the Presidential Majority, then the [[Union for a Popular Movement]] (UMP). The RPR had broken down; A number of members had formed [[Eurosceptic]] breakaways. While the Giscardian [[Liberalism|liberals]] of the Union of French Democracy ([[Union for French Democracy|UDF]]) had moved to the right. The UMP won the [[French legislative election, 2002|parliamentary elections]] that followed the presidential poll with ease.
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| − |
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| − | During an official visit to [[Madagascar]] on 21 July 2005, Chirac described the repression of the 1947 [[Malagasy uprising]], which left between 80,000 and 90,000 dead, as "unacceptable."
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| − |
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| − | Despite past opposition to state intervention the Chirac government approved a 2.8 billion [[euro]] aid package to troubled manufacturing giant [[Alstom]]. <ref>Pfanner, Eric. 2003.
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| − | [http://www.iht.com/articles/2003/08/08/alstom_1.php France's §2.8 billion aid package unlikely to bring quick fix: Alstom bailout may be long haul.] ''International Herald Tribune.'' Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref> In October 2004, Chirac signed a [[trade agreement]] with PRC President [[Hu Jintao]] where Alstom was given one billion euro in contracts and promises of future investment in [[China]].<ref>[http://english.people.com.cn/200410/10/eng20041010_159619.html People's Daily Online - France's Alstom, China ink $1.3b contracts.] People's Daily online. Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref>
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| − |
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| − | ===Assassination attempt===
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| − | [[Image:Chirac July 14 motorcade DSC00776.jpg|thumb|While Jacques Chirac was reviewing troops in a motorcade such as this one on Bastille Day 2002, he was shot at by a bystander.]]
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| − | On July 14 2002, during [[Bastille Day]] celebrations, Chirac survived an [[assassination]] attempt by a lone gunman with a rifle hidden in a guitar case. The would-be assassin fired a shot toward the presidential [[motorcade]], before being overpowered by bystanders.<ref> [http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_2127000/2127946.stm Chirac escapes lone gunman's bullet.] [[BBC]]. Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref> The gunman, [[Maxime Brunerie]], underwent psychiatric testing; the violent far-right group with which he was associated, [[Unité Radicale]], was then administratively dissolved.
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| − |
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| − | ===2005 referendum on the TCE===
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| − | On May 29 2005, a [[referendum]] was held in France to decide whether the country should ratify the proposed treaty for a [[Constitution of the European Union]] (TCE). The result was a victory for the No campaign, with 55 percent of voters rejecting the treaty on a turnout of 69 percent, dealing a devastating blow to Chirac and the [[Union for a Popular Movement|UMP]] party, as well as to part of the center-left which had supported the TCE.
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| − |
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| − | ===Foreign policy===
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| − | Along with [[Gerhard Schröder]], Chirac emerged as a leading voice against the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]]'s conduct towards [[Iraq War|Iraq]]. Despite intense US pressure, Chirac threatened to [[veto]], at that given point, a resolution in the [[UN Security Council]] that would authorize the use of military force to rid Iraq of alleged [[weapons of mass destruction]], and rallied other governments to his position. "Iraq today does not represent an immediate threat that justifies an immediate war," Chirac said on March 18, 2003.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2860309.stm US war signal divides world.] [[BBC]]. Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref> Chirac was then the target of various American and British commentators supporting the decisions of Bush and [[Tony Blair]]. Current Prime minister [[Dominique de Villepin]] acquired much of his popularity for his speech against the war at the [[United Nations]] (UN). However, following controversies concerning the CIA's [[black sites]] and [[extraordinary rendition]] program, the press revealed that French special services had cooperated with [[Washington, DC|Washington]] in the same time that Villepin was countering [[US foreign policy]] at the UN headquarters in New York. Chirac supported the UN's role in Iraq's reconstruction and nation building after the invasion, not the US; "'We are no longer in an era where one or two countries can control the fate of another country,' Mr. Chirac said at a news conference in Paris after meeting with the United Nations' high commissioner for refugees".<ref>Wines, Michael. 2008. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9507E4DA1E38F93AA35757C0A9659C8B63 A Nation at War: Diplomacy. Chirac to join German and Russian Leaders.] ''New York Times.'' Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref>
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| − |
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| − | After [[Togo]]'s leader [[Gnassingbé Eyadéma]]'s death on February 5, 2005, Chirac gave him tribute and supported his son, [[Faure Gnassingbé]], who has since succeeded to his father.<ref name="Smith" /> On January 19, 2006, Chirac said that France was prepared to launch a [[Nuclear warfare|nuclear strike]] against any country that sponsors a [[List of terrorist incidents|terrorist attack]] against French interests. He said his country's [[Force de frappe|nuclear arsenal]] had been reconfigured to include the ability to make a tactical strike in retaliation for terrorism.<ref>Moore, Molly. 2006.[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/19/AR2006011903311.html Chirac: Nuclear Response to Terrorism Is Possible.] ''The Washington Post.'' Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref>
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| − | [[Image:Bush and Chirac.jpg|thumb|Chirac and [[George W. Bush]] during the [[27th G8 summit]], July 21 2001.]]
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| − | In July 2006, the [[G8]] met to discuss international energy concerns. Despite the rising awareness of [[global warming]] issues, the G8 focuses on "[[energy security]]" issues. Chirac continued to be the voice within the G8 summit meetings to support international action to curb global warming and [[climate change]] concerns. Chirac warned that "humanity is dancing on a [[volcano]]" and calls for serious action by the world's leading industrialized nations.<ref> [http://www.cutco2.org/2006/07/chirac-is-not-in-favor-of-dancing-on.html Chirac is Not in Favor of Dancing on Volcanoes.] CutC02. Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref>
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| − |
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| − | Throughout his presidency, he tried to improve relations with former French colonies and possessions in Africa and also in the Middle East. One reason why he opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq was because he knew that this would be unpopular in the region, where he wanted to France to be seen as a voice for reason and diplomacy.
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| − |
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| − | ===2005 civil unrest and CPE protests===
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| − |
| |
| − | Following major [[2006 labor protests in France|students protests in spring 2006]], which succeeded to [[2005 civil unrest in France|civil unrest]] in autumn 2005 following the death of two young boys in [[Clichy-sous-Bois]], one of the poorest French commune located in Paris' suburbs, Chirac retracted the proposed [[First Employment Contract]] (CPE) by "promulgating [it] without applying it," an unheard-of — and, some claim, illegal — move destined to appease the protests while giving the appearance not to retract himself, and therefore to continue his support towards his Prime Minister [[Dominique de Villepin]].
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| − |
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| − | ===The Clearstream affair===
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| − |
| |
| − | During April and May 2006, Chirac's administration was beset by a crisis as his chosen Prime Minister, [[Dominique de Villepin]], was accused of asking [[Philippe Rondot]], a top level French [[espionage|spy]], for a secret investigation into the latter's chief political rival, [[Nicolas Sarkozy]], in 2004. This matter has been called the second [[Clearstream Affair]]. On May 10, 2006, following a Cabinet meeting, Chirac made a rare television appearance to try to protect Villepin from the scandal and to debunk allegations that Chirac himself had set up a [[Japan]]ese bank account containing 300 million francs in 1992 as Mayor of Paris.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,542-2174662,00.html French farce.] ''The Times.'' Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref> Chirac said that "The Republic is not a dictatorship of rumors, a dictatorship of calumny."<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2174839,00.html Caught in deep water: Chirac swims against a tide of scandal.] ''The Times.'' Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref>
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| − |
| |
| − | ===Announcement of intention not to seek a third term===
| |
| − | In a pre-recorded television broadcast aired on March 11, 2007, Jacques Chirac announced, in a widely-predicted move, that he would not choose to seek a third term as France's President. "Serving France, and serving peace, is what I have committed my whole life to," Chirac said, adding that he would find new ways to serve France after leaving office. He did not explain the reasons for his decision.<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/12/europe/EU-POL-France-Chiracs-Future.php France's Chirac says he will not run for re-election.] ''International Herald Tribune.'' Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref> Chirac did not, during the broadcast, endorse any of the candidates running for election, but did devote several minutes of his talk to a plea against extremist politics that was considered a thinly-disguised invocation to voters not to vote for [[Jean-Marie Le Pen]] and a recommendation to [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] not to orient his campaign so as to include themes traditionally associated with Le Pen.<ref>Leicester, John. 2007. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/11/AR2007031101091.html Chirac Leaving Stage Admired and Scorned.] ''The Washington Post.'' Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref>
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| − |
| |
| − | ==Life after presidency==
| |
| − | After his presidency ended, Chirac became a lifetime member of the [[Constitutional Council of France]]. He sat for the first time in the Council on November 15, 2007, six months after leaving the French Presidency. Immediately after Sarkozy's victory, Chirac moved into a 180 square [[meter]]s duplex on the Quai Voltaire in Paris lent to him by the family of former [[Lebanon|Lebanese]] Prime Minister [[Rafik Hariri]]. During the [[Didier Schuller]] affair, the latter accused Hariri of having participated to the illegal funding of the [[Rally for the Republic|RPR]]'s political campaigns, but the justice closed the case without further investigations. On April 11, 2008, Chirac's office announced that he had undergone successful surgery to fit a [[pacemaker]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7343096.stm France's Chirac gets pacemaker.] [[BBC]]. Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref>
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| − |
| |
| − | Shortly after leaving office, he founded the [[Jacques Chirac Foundation for Sustainable Development and Cultural Dialogue]].
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| − |
| |
| − | As a former President, he is entitled to a lifetime pension and personal security protection.
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| − |
| |
| − | ==Impact on French popular culture==
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| − | Because of Jacques Chirac's long career in visible government position, he has often been [[parody|parodied]] or [[caricature]]d: Young Jacques Chirac is the basis of a character in an ''[[Obelix and Co.|Astérix]]'' book: that of a young, dashing [[bureaucrat]] just out of the bureaucracy school, proposing methods to quell Gallic unrest to elderly, old-style Roman politicians.<ref>[http://www.mage.fst.uha.fr/asterix/caricat/chirac.html La caricature dans Astérix : Jacques Chirac.] Stéphane RIVIÈRE. Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref> He was featured in ''Le Bêbête Show'' as an overexcited, jumpy character.
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| − |
| |
| − | Jacques Chirac is one favorite character of ''[[Les Guignols de l'Info]]'', a satiric latex [[puppet show]]. He was once portrayed as a rather likeable, though overexcited, character; however, following the corruption allegations, he has been shown as a kind of dilettante and incompetent who pilfers public money and lies through his teeth. <ref>Whitney, Craig R. 1995.[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE5DF1E30F937A35756C0A963958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all Paris Journal; On Election Day, Puppets Could Steal the Show.] ''New York Times.'' Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref> His character for a while developed a [[super hero]] alter ego, ''Super Menteur'' ("Super Liar") in order to get him out of embarrassing situations. Because of his alleged improprieties, he was lambasted in a song '''' ("Chirac in jail") by French punk band the [[Wampas]], with a video clip made by the ''Guignols''.<ref>[http://www.metrolyrics.com/chirac-en-prison-lyrics-les-wampas.html Chirac En Prison Les Wampas Lyrics.] Metro Lyrics. Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref>
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| − |
| |
| − | ==Political offices held ==
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| − | *Member of the [[Sainte-Féréole]] ([[Corrèze]]) municipal council 1965-1977
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| − | *[[French National Assembly|National Assembly]] Deputy for Corrèze (March to May 1967)
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| − | *State Secretary for Social Affairs 1967-1968
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| − | *Deputy for Corrèze (June to August 1968)
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| − | *Member of the Corrèze [[Conseil Général]] for the [[Canton in France|canton]] of [[Meymac]] 1968-1982
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| − | *State Secretary for the Economy and Finance 1968-1971
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| − | *President of the Corrèze Conseil Général 1970-1979
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| − | *Minister attached to the Prime Minister, with responsibility for relations with Parliament 1971-1972
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| − | *Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development 1972–1973
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| − | *Deputy for Corrèze 1973-1974
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| − | *Minister of the Interior 1974
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| − | *Prime Minister 1974-1976
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| − | *General Secretary of the Union of Democrats for the Republic 1974-1975
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| − | *Deputy for Corrèze 1976-1986
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| − | *President of Rally for the Republic 1976-1994
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| − | *Mayor of Paris 1977-1995
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| − | *Member of the [[European Parliament]] 1979-1980
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| − | *Prime Minister 1986-1988
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| − | *Deputy for Corrèze 1988-1995
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| − |
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| − | ==Honors==
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| − | *[[légion d'honneur|Grand-Croix de la Légion d'Honneur]] ]
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| − | *[[Ordre national du Mérite|Grand-Croix de l'Ordre National du Mérite]]
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| − | *''"Croix de la Valeur Militaire"''
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| − | *''"Médaille de l'Aéronautique"''
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| − | *Knight of the "Mérite agricole"''
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| − | *Knight of the ''[[Ordre des Arts et des Lettres|Order of Arts and Letters]]"''
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| − | *Knight of the Dark Star ([[Bénin]]) (French Colonial Order)
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| − | *Knight of the ''"Mérite Sportif"''
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| − | *[[Order of Malta|''Grand-croix du Mérite de l'Ordre Souverain de Malte'']]
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| − | *[[Ordre national du Québec|''Officier de l'Ordre national du Québec'']]
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| − | *Codor de oro
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| − | *Grand Cross of the [[Order of St. Olav]] (2000)
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| − | *[[State Prize of the Russian Federation]] (2007)
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| − |
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| − | ==Titles from birth to currently==
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| − | *Monsieur le ''Président de la République française'' (1995 - 2007)
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| − | *''His Excellency The Sovereign Co-Prince of Andorra'' (1995 - 2007)
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| − |
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| − | ==Legacy==
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| − | Chirac's failure to revive France's economy or to curb rising unemployment (which rose to ten percent), and corruption allegations, color his legacy. Internationally, though, he did much to maintain Frances' independent foreign and to improve relations with former French colonies and mandated territories. He refused to visit [[South Africa]] until [[apartheid]] was dismantled and shortly after his first election "acknowledged the responsibility of the French state during World War II in attending to the persecution of the Jewish populace and sought national forgiveness for it.<ref name=Legacy>de Nesnera, Andre . 2007.[http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2007-05/2007-05-09-voa36.cfm Chirac Leaves Mixed Legacy After 12 Years as French President.] Voice of America. Citing Simon Serfaty, an expert on Europe at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref>
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| − |
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| − | Experts say that in foreign policy "Mr. Chirac will best be remembered for his strong opposition to the March 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq."<ref name=Legacy/> His greatest set-back "in the foreign policy realm came in 2005, when he was unable to convince the French to vote in favor of a constitution for Europe."<ref name=Legacy/> His strong support the role of the United Nations came at a time when it was being increasingly side-lined in what some refer to as the unipolar era, that is, the age of a single super-power, the USA unlike the bi-polar [[Cold War]] dominated by two powers, the USA and the Soviet Union. The United Nations is not perfect but only cooperation and diplomacy between peoples will rid the world of war, enabling [[humanity]] to make earth our common home, not our shared grave. The UN is still best placed to facilitate cooperation, so it needs to be strengthened and reformed and not side-lined.
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| − |
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| − | {{start box}}
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| − | {{s-off}}
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| − | {{succession box|title=[[Minister of Agriculture (France)|Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development]]|before=[[Michel Cointat]]|after=[[Raymond Marcellin]]|years=1972–1974}}
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| − | {{succession box|title=[[Minister of the Interior (France)|Minister of the Interior]]|before=[[Raymond Marcellin]]|after=[[Michel Poniatowski]]|years=1974}}
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| − | {{succession box|title=[[Prime Minister of France]]|before=[[Pierre Messmer]]|after=[[Raymond Barre]]|years=1974–1976}}
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| − | {{succession box|title=[[List of mayors of Paris|Mayor of Paris]]|before=-|after=[[Jean Tiberi]]|years=1977–1995}}
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| − | {{succession box|title=[[Prime Minister of France]]|before=[[Laurent Fabius]]|after=[[Michel Rocard]]|years=1986–1988}}
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| − | {{succession box|title=[[List of Presidents of the French Republic|President of the French Republic]]|before=[[François Mitterrand]]|after=[[Nicolas Sarkozy]]|years=1995-2007}}
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| − | {{succession box|before=[[Jean Chrétien]]|title=[[Chair of the G7]]|years=1996|after=[[Bill Clinton]]}}
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| − | {{succession box|before=[[Jean Chrétien]]|title=[[Chair of the G8]]|years=2003|after=[[George W. Bush]]}}
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| − | {{s-ppo}}
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| − | {{succession box|title=[[Union of Democrats for the Republic|General Secretary of the Union of Democrats for the Republic]]|before=[[Alexandre Sanguinetti]]|after=[[André Bord]]|years=1974–1975}}
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| − | {{succession box|before='''None. Party created'''|title=[[Rally for the Republic|President of Rally for the Republic]]|after=[[Alain Juppé]]|years=1976–1994}}
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| − | {{succession box|title=[[Rally for the Republic|Gaullist party Presidential candidate]]|before=[[Jacques Chaban-Delmas]]|after='''None'''|years=[[French presidential election, 1981|1981]] (lost), [[French presidential election, 1988|1988]] (lost), [[French presidential election, 1995|1995]] (won), [[French presidential election, 2002|2002]] (won)}}
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| − | {{s-reg|}}
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| − | {{succession box|title=[[List of Co-Princes of Andorra|Co-Prince of Andorra]]|before=[[François Mitterrand]]|after=[[Nicolas Sarkozy]]|years=1995-2007<br/>''with [[Joan Martí Alanis]] (1995–2003) <br/>and [[Joan Enric Vives Sicília]] (2003–2007)}}
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| − | {{s-prec}}
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| − | {{succession box|before=[[Valery Giscard d'Estaing]]|title=[[French order of precedence]]|years=Former President of the Republic|after=Governments ministers}}
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| − | {{end box}}
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| − |
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| − | ==Notes==
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| − | <references/>
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| − |
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| − | ==References==
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| − | * Allport, Alan. 2007. ''Jacques Chirac. Modern world leaders.'' New York, NY: Chelsea House. ISBN 9780791092651. (juvenile audeince)
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| − | * Hecht, Emmanuel, and François Vey. 1995. ''Chirac de A à Z.'' Paris, FR: Michel. ISBN 9782226076649.
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| − | * d'Estaing,Valéry Giscard. 1988-2006. ''Le pouvoir et la vie'', tome 3. Paris, FR: Cie. 12, Diffusion Inter Forum. ISBN 9782903866280.
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| − | * Keeler, John T.S., and Martin Schain. 1996. ''Chirac's challenge: liberalization, Europeanization, and malaise in France.'' New York, NY: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 9780312122706.
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| − | * Lepage, Frédéric, and Olivier Fauveaux. 1996. ''A table avec Chirac.'' Paris, FR: M. Lafon. ISBN 9782840982326.
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| − | * Tuppen, John N. 1991. ''Chirac's France, 1986-88: contemporary issues in French society.'' New York, NY: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 9780312044893.
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| − |
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| − | ==External links==
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| − | *[http://www.elysee.fr/elysee/elysee.fr/anglais/the_president/biography/biography.39706.html Biography at the Official Website of the Office of the French President]. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
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| − | *[http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/index.php?menuID=2&subID=1509&p=2 Jacques Chirac - A life in pictures photo essay]. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
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| − | *Anne Applebaum, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/07/AR2007050701239.html Farewell, Jacques Chirac], ''[[The Washington Post]]'', May 8, 2007. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
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| − |
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| − | {{Persondata
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| − | |NAME= Chirac, Jacques
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| − | |ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Chirac, Jacques René
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| − | |SHORT DESCRIPTION=[[President of the French Republic|President of France]]
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| − | |DATE OF BIRTH=November 29, 1932
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| − | |PLACE OF BIRTH=[[Paris]], [[France]]
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| − | |DATE OF DEATH=
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| − | |PLACE OF DEATH=
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| − | }}
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| − | [[Category:Biography]]
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| − | [[Category:History]]
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| − | [[Category:Politicians and reformers]]
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