Chirac

Mr Chirac's downfall may be treated with some indulgence by a public that has come to see him as a kind of grandfather to the nation.

In the last months of his presidency, Mr Chirac mused publicly that it might not be so dangerous after all if Iran acquired a nuclear bomb.

A spokesman for Mr Chirac said the report did not reflect "the tone or the content" of the meeting, but he didn't say no to such reports.

Mr Chirac has said he is ready to appear in the dock and has nothing to hide.

Yet, despite the long shadow that the septuagenarian casts over his country's politics, Mr Chirac's is not the only France.

Jacques Chirac, a former president, reaches to kiss her hand and cradles it "as if it were a piece of porcelain" .

The door is hobbit-sized, though apparently it had been widened to accommodate Chirac's European frame.

Jean Veil, a lawyer for Mr Chirac, declined to comment, saying he had not been able to speak to his client.

But in retrospect, Mr Chirac might have had a point.

Mr Chirac has said all along that he was ready to explain himself in court, and that he has "done nothing wrong" .

Indeed, for a president who promised a rupture with the Chirac era, his new team would not look out of place under the old Gaullist.

French President Jacques Chirac's personal chef could not go because he had to be in France for a state visit.

Mr Chirac has, commendably, made a point of trying to stamp out racism and anti-Semitism on his watch.

Such a philosophy rests upon the uncomfortable notion that Africans, "joyous by nature, " as Chirac once said, are simply big children.

For a start Mr Sarkozy, unlike Jacques Chirac in 1995, has entered office with a strong electoral mandate for change.

After all that, Chirac cancelled, distracted by the outbreak of the Iraq war.

If Mr Chirac looked upon America with a mixture of envy and disdain, Mr Sarkozy appears genuinely fond of the place and its people.

"He's a man of heart, " Mrs Traxel told Le Parisien newspaper, describing her time with the Chirac family as "a fairy tale" .

The only other modern French president to have lost popularity so quickly was Mr. Sarkozy's predecessor, Jacques Chirac.

Over the years judges have put together various cases in an attempt to finger Mr Chirac.

During the visit, Chirac admired the archeological site where thousands of objects have been dug up, including bronze animals and statues.

On French TV, Mr. Villepin has denounced Bourgi's accusations as lies and a willful attempt to tarnish Mr. Chirac's presidency.

After 12 years of Mr Chirac, this was the Socialist Party's election to lose.

Arnaud Montebourg, a Socialist deputy, insists that Mr Chirac "has to face up to his judicial responsibilities" .

Elegant, aristocratic, lyrical and having made a name as the darling of those opposed to the Iraq war, he was Mr Chirac's preferred heir.

Many French voters support Mr Chirac for his strong opposition to the Iraq war, which even made him briefly popular.

That was a victory for Jacques Chirac, then French president, over German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who wanted the fines to be automatic.

"Bayrou would just be like five more years of Chirac, " says Pierre de Jean, who runs a designer umbrella factory in Donzy.

Mr Chirac's freelance diplomacy and refusal to consult allies has been mostly just a nuisance.

"We live in a world right now which is not recognizable from what I experienced growing up in the 1950s and 1960s, " he told Chirac.

French President Chirac attended the meeting in the capacity of the President of the EU Council.

To a standing ovation, French President Jacques Chirac stepped into the Great hall in high spirits.

THE French have greeted the decision to put Jacques Chirac on trial for misappropriation of public funds with mixed feelings.

On the eighteenth, Jacques Chirac and Romano Prodi came to the White House for my last meeting with European Union leaders.

The formal investigation is to determine whether Mr. Chirac should stand trial or the case should be dismissed for lack of evidence.

French judge has placed former President Jacques Chirac under formal investigation as part of a corruption probe. Mr.

In 1995 President Jacques Chirac backed down after a three-week strike, a critical defeat in his attempt to reform the economy.

Jacques Chirac suggested a state funeral for him and perhaps interment in the Pantheon, alongside Rousseau and Voltaire.

Jacques Chirac embodied this tradition, taking his cues from the Arab street, and arguing for a European counterweight to America.

The allegations come at a time when both Mr. Chirac and Mr. Villepin are on trial in unrelated scandals.

That the French judicial system has held Mr Chirac to account is testimony to its independence.

Britain's Tony Blair and France's Jacques Chirac were crucial to getting a climate change deal but both would be leaving office in months.

Out went the formal, remote style of his predecessor, Jacques Chirac. In came an open, regular-guy approach.

When asked about his love life during a recent documentary Mr. Chirac paused for several seconds before describing it as 'reasonable. '

who overran the grounds of Prime Minister John Major's country residence as French President Chirac arrived for a two days' summit.

The president, Jacques Chirac, a Gaullist descendant, has called liberalism a greater menace for Europe than communism.

Fran? ois Baroin, a minister under Jacques Chirac, has said he should slow down reforms altogether.

President Chirac said that, after the incident occurred, the European countries expressed their support to the United States.

Mr Chirac knows a thing or two about the perils of running for president while still in government.

Chirac said he wanted "both a festival, with moments of seriousness, and a signal that finally we can live in peace. "

Nobody now expects Mr Chirac to get anywhere near the inside of a prison cell.

Since leaving office, Mr Chirac, who published the first volume of his memoirs this week, has become an unlikely figure of affection.

Prosecutors however have asked the court to dismiss the Chirac case for lack of sufficient evidence.

Mr Chirac's fate may perhaps constrain politicians' sense of impunity.

Chirac, French president himself dotes on oriental culture and is even a connoisseur in ancient Chinese bronze ware.

President Nicolas Sarkozy is proving to be as awkward a military ally in 2011 as Jacques Chirac was a disruptive opponent in 2003.

Mr Sarkozy may not be popular but he is still far above the depths plumbed by Mr Chirac.

But as Mr Chirac has noted, opportunistic politicians may lose at the centre as many votes as they gain on the fringe.

Across the Atlantic, France's image has been transformed from the bad old days of Mr Sarkozy's predecessor, Jacques Chirac.

Former French President Jacques Chirac was put on trial Monday for embezzling money from the city of Paris when he was mayor.

"The only thing they have ever done for European agriculture is mad cow disease, " Mr Chirac said, according to the newspaper's report.

Mister chirac says the rejection means france will have trouble defending its interests in europe.

The case revolves around an allegation that the Paris city hall gave fake jobs to sympathizers of Mr. Chirac's conservative party.

There is much interest in the degree to which the new president will depart from the Chirac line.

Although Chirac made his discourse in French, his speech received a warm response and he impressed the students as a likeable person.

While running for the presidency in 2007, he criticised the Chirac administration for "French arrogance" over the Iraq war.

FIFTEEN years ago he was cast aside by the Gaullist right because he backed a rival candidate to Jacques Chirac for the French presidency.

As I recall, France's Jacques Chirac and Germany's Gerhard Schr? der were mustard keen to side with the autocrats.

In a book in 2001, Mrs Chirac spoke about the difficulties of living with a "handsome" man who has "enormous success" with women.

President Jacques Chirac has ordered his government to draw up legislation to force French companies to pay equal wages to men and women.

Relations today between President Jacques Chirac of France and Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain tell part of the story.

French President Jacques Chirac started a state visit to China Saturday.

President Jacques Chirac will officially launch the Millau bridge at Tuesday's ceremony, almost exactly three years after work began.

Today's world is plagued by terrorism, cultural conflicts and power politics, French President Jacques Chirac said yesterday.

Mr Chirac's frequent hand-kissing notwithstanding, relations with France have cooled significantly.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair supported the Iraq war despite French President Jacques Chirac speaking out against it.

Unlike his predecessor, Jacques Chirac, he was not naturally drawn to the continent or its culture.

MANY a sceptic has long doubted that Jacques Chirac would ever see the inside of a courtroom, let alone a jail.

Former French President Jacques Chirac would never have vacationed stateside, let alone in New Hampshire, the way Sarkozy did this summer.

This week's ruling, however, adds to the sense that, when it comes to Mr Chirac, the French justice system keeps stalling.

The public prosecutor has already recommended that charges against Mr Chirac be dropped.

Mr Chirac is charged with "misappropriation of public funds" , using fake jobs paid for by the Paris town hall.

Among them is Michel Roussin, Mr Chirac's former town-hall chief of staff, already convicted in a previous town-hall corruption case.

Jacques Chirac, the former President of France, has been convicted for misusing public funds when he was mayor of Paris in the 1990s.

Two veterans of the world stage, Jacques Chirac and Tony Blair, will step aside, leaving Europe even more introverted .

In 2005 she was called back to France by Jacques Chirac to become trade minister.

So if the investigating judges are ever to hold Mr Chirac to account for what went on during his watch, this is their last chance.

Yet this week's ruling adds to the sense that, when it comes to Mr Chirac, the judicial system keeps stalling.

Mr Chirac is the first former head of state to be sentenced in the fifth Republic.

In the end, Mr Chirac's decision to stay out of Iraq served France well.

Besides political conflicts, Chirac reminded that the world is also suffering from global warming, poverty and disease.

His successor Jacques Chirac was widely known for his fondness for women.

And surprisingly, 51 percent of Britons had a good image of Chirac, while Blair was liked by 49 percent of the French.

In 2006, as student protests spread around the country, Mr Chirac 's poll rating collapsed toa pitiful 16%.

Mr Chirac has said that he was willing to appear in the dock, and that he has nothing to hide.

Mr. Chirac's comments contrast with France's official policy of deterring Iran from getting nuclear arms.

Chirac, President of the Republic of France suggested that the China-France Culture Year (should)last long in various forms.

When the Gaullist Mr Chirac was first elected in 1995, for instance, he dismissed the Paris public prosecutor appointed by the Socialists.

Mr Chirac's two-year sentence was actually harsher than that of the others accused in the trial.

Jacques Chirac chose Lebanon for his first presidential visit to the Middle East, in 1996.

According to reports during Chirac's China visit China and France are expected to sign substantial commercial contracts.

"One cannot trust people whose cuisine is so bad. " Mr Chirac said.

President Chirac came to China mainly with three important tasks including several aspects of the Sino-French cooperation.

Mr Chirac is accused of employing 21 friends in allegedly "fake jobs" at the Paris town hall, a relatively minor charge.

Mr Chirac is accused of "misappropriation of public funds" during his time as mayor of Paris.

Mr Pasqua, who has appealed against his conviction, was Mr Chirac's interior minister.

At the previous regional poll in 2004, when Jacques Chirac was president, the Socialists also swept the board.

In exchange, Paris, Chirac's government to withdraw the prosecution.

Mr Sarkozy will mark a distinct break with the Chirac era, not just in tone but in substance.

But unlike Mr Chirac, Mr Sarkozy claims to want a human-rights dimension in foreign policy.

Even the opposition has misgivings about pursuing Mr Chirac.

Mr. Chirac, who had denied the accusations ahead of the criminal trial, won't appeal the ruling, his lawyer Georges Kiejman said.

To their dismay, the voters had to choose between Mr Le Pen and the incumbent, Jacques Chirac, in the run-off.

In 1995 grumbling about an overvalued franc helped Jacques Chirac win the presidential election in France.

Chirac asked Zhu to pass on his greetings to President Jiang.

Of all the efforts to finger Mr Chirac, this is the only one to reach court.

It is little wonder that Chirac has often been considered a creature of organized agriculture.

But he nevertheless backed Mr Chirac's opposition to the invasion.

Others have been shelved because of the statute of limitations or because of the presidential immunity that Mr Chirac enjoyed until 2007.

It now looks less likely than ever that Mr Chirac will be held fully to account for what happened on his watch.

Mr Chirac has shown no inclination to give the underlying model a rethink.

There is one further problem: that Mr Sarkozy is linked in the public mind with Mr Chirac's controversial 12-year reign.

Zhu conveyed to Chirac greetings from President Jiang Zemin.

Chirac's task now is to heal the wounds of a bruising campaign, restore public confidence and spark a job-creating burst of economic growth.

This morning, it wakes up to Chirac.

France's winning Davis Cup team celebrates success and gets the chance to meet President Jacques Chirac.

Chirac told the Barre, you can ask any question, there is no taboo.

President Chirac was very Leete was st anding cosmology and anthropology and ideological dividing lines.

And he has dropped Mr Chirac's kid-glove treatment of Russia and China.

Could he resist the political clientelism that has characterised Mr Chirac's reign?

Mr Chirac was elected in 1995 on promises to cut taxes, to curb unemployment and to "mend the social fracture" .

A satirical documentary, "Dans la Peau de Jacques Chirac" , is showing in cinemas.

After 11 years in the presidency, Mr Chirac has come to embody the country's political inability to renew itself.

By the way, I think Chirac is an easy-going and humorous guy.

Most socialist voters then backed Mr Chirac, who was re-elected with 82 per cent of votes. Mr Le Pen raised his support to only 18 per cent.

In 2006 Jacques Chirac walked out of a Brussels summit in protest at a Frenchman speaking in English.

Not much difference there with Chirac.

Mr Chirac was found guilty of using taxpayers' money to fund party activities.

Jacques Chirac, French president in 2003, had served in Algeria.

"It is our responsibility. The future of humanity demands it, " President Jacques Chirac said.

Mr Chirac keeps in close touch with his son, Saad.

Chirac reminded Chinese youth of their responsibility for the future of not only their own country but the whole world.

But Mr Chirac's friends have rallied round.

Chirac asked Li to convey his New Year congratulations to the Chinese people.

Would the man who yearns to inherit the Chirac crown prove any better?

In the "Memoirs of Jacques Chirac: step by step to win 1932-1995, " a book, he also pursued this principle.

Both Mr. Chirac and Mr. Villepin say they will file complaints against Bourgi.

President Chirac, 72, has seen his popularity plummet after a series of setbacks.

If there is a French exception, Mr Chirac is its embodiment.

Mr Chirac in 1995 also won a robust majority (52. 6%), but campaigned to "mend the social fracture" , not to change France.

Mr. Chirac, invited by the Institute of Foreign Affairs, will come later this month and have talks with Chinese leaders.

Chirac said France will make continued efforts to promote the development of EU-China relations and to settle China's reasonable concerns.

Other inquiries were never resolved, such as that into travel-agency bills paid in cash by the Chirac family.

Mr Chirac's office says he is "serene" , confident that he can show the jobs were real.

In a fragmented landscape, where Mr Chirac secured only 19. 9% in the 2002 first round, that is a lot.

Last year it also denied that Chirac had made the disparaging remark about Finnish and British cuisine.

Few French political trials end in prison terms, let alone the ten years in jail that Mr Chirac in theory faces.

But if found guilty Mr Chirac could face ten years in prison.

Former French President Chirac became the first former French leader to stand trial since the Second World War,

Economic problems for the french and popularity problems for jacques chirac may have also influenced voters

Article of Freedom: Jacques Chirac encourages the diffusion of works on Internet

Chief Political Adviser to French President Jacques Chirac

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The trial of Jacques Chirac

It is plain that Jacques Chirac has wasted his 11 years as president