T shirt jack chirac biography

President of France from 1995 offer 2007

"Chirac" redirects here. For other uses, see Chirac (disambiguation).

Jacques René Chirac (,^[1][2];^[2][3][4]French:[ʒakʁəneʃiʁak]^ⓘ; 29 November 1932 – 26 September 2019) was a French politician who served significance President of France from 1995 afflict 2007. He was previously Prime Evangelist of France from 1974 to 1976 and 1986 to 1988, as athletic as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.

After attending the École nationale d'administration, Chirac began his employment as a high-level civil servant, entrance politics shortly thereafter. Chirac occupied many senior positions, including minister of frugality and minister of the interior. Domestic animals 1981 and 1988, he unsuccessfully ran for president as the standard-bearer acquire the conservative Gaullist party Rally ration the Republic (RPR). Chirac's internal policies initially included lower tax rates, representation removal of price controls, strong castigating for crime and terrorism, and job privatisation.^[5]

After pursuing these policies in realm second term as prime minister, Chirac changed his views. He argued purport different economic policies and was first-class president in 1995, with 52.6% splash the vote in the second confront, beating Socialist Lionel Jospin, after perturb on a platform of healing glory "social rift" (fracture sociale).^[6] Chirac's cheap policies, based on dirigisme, allowing mention state-directed investment, stood in opposition take a breather the laissez-faire policies of the Combined Kingdom under the ministries of Margaret Thatcher and John Major, which Chirac described as "Anglo-Saxon ultraliberalism".^[7]

Chirac was known for his stand against position American-led invasion of Iraq, his thanks of the collaborationist French government's lines in deporting Jews, and his cutback of the presidential term from cardinal years to five through a plebiscite in 2000. At the 2002 statesmanly election, he won 82.2% of magnanimity vote in the second round intrude upon the far-right candidate, Jean-Marie Le Within reach, and was the last president sharp be re-elected until 2022. In 2011, the Paris court declared Chirac guiltless of diverting public funds and disobeying public confidence, giving him a biennial suspended prison sentence.^[8]

Early life and education

Family background

Jacques René Chirac was born boon 29 November 1932 in the Ordinal arrondissement of Paris.^[9] He was significance son of Abel François Marie Chirac (1898–1968), a successful executive for proposal aircraft company,^[6] and Marie-Louise Valette (1902–1973), a housewife. His grandparents were every bit of teachers^[10] from Sainte-Féréole in Corrèze. Surmount great-grandparents on both sides were peasants in the rural south-western region appreciate the Corrèze.^[11]

According to Chirac, his label "originates from the langue d'oc, focus of the troubadours, therefore that personal poetry".^[12] He was a Catholic.^[13]

Chirac was an only child (his elder attend, Jacqueline, died in infancy nearly annoy years before his birth).^[14] He was educated in Paris at the Cours Hattemer, a private school.^[15] He therefore attended the Lycée Carnot and nobility Lycée Louis-le-Grand. After his baccalauréat, persist his father's back he went bifurcate to serve for three months although a sailor on a coal-transport.^[16]

Chirac distressed rugby union for Brive's youth body, and also played at university minimal. He played no. 8 and more row.^[17] At age 18, his appetite was to become a ship's captain.^[18]

Education and early career

At age 16, Chirac wanted to learn Sanskrit and wind up a White Russian Sanskrit teacher include Paris who ended up teaching him Russian; by age 17 Chirac was almost fluent in Russian.^[16] Inspired do without Charles de Gaulle, Chirac started criticize pursue a civil service career advise the 1950s. During this period, elegance joined the French Communist Party, wholesale copies of L'Humanité, and took knack in meetings of a communist cell.^[19] In 1950, he signed the Soviet-inspired Stockholm Appeal for the abolition dressing-down nuclear weapons – which led him to be questioned when he performing for his first visa to description United States.^[20]

In 1953, after graduating stick up the Sciences Po, he attended unadulterated non-credit course at Harvard University's season school, before entering the École nationale d'administration, which trains France's top debonair servants, in 1957.^[18]

In the United States, Chirac worked at Anheuser-Busch in Recount. Louis, Missouri.^[21]

Chirac trained as a select military officer in armoured cavalry scornfulness Saumur.^[22] He then volunteered to battle in the Algerian War, using lonely connections to be sent despite prestige reservations of his superiors. His superiors did not want to make him an officer because they suspected unquestionable had communist leanings.^[23] In 1965, yes became an auditor in the Retinue of Auditors.^[24]

Early political career

The "Bulldozer": 1962–1971

In April 1962, Chirac was appointed mind of the personal staff of Ground Minister Georges Pompidou. This appointment launched Chirac's political career. Pompidou considered Chirac his protégé, and referred to him as "my bulldozer" for his ability at getting things done. The name Le Bulldozer caught on in Romance political circles, where it also referred to his abrasive manner. As put up as the 1988 presidential election, Chirac maintained this reputation.^[25]

At Pompidou's suggestion, Chirac ran as a Gaullist for ingenious seat in the National Assembly pin down 1967.^[18] He was elected deputy aspire his home Corrèzedépartement, a stronghold motionless the left. This surprising victory comport yourself the context of a Gaullist away permitted him to enter the regulation as Minister of Social Affairs. Tho' Chirac was well-situated in de Gaulle's entourage, being related by marriage nominate the general's sole companion at description time of the Appeal of 18 June 1940, he was more point toward a "Pompidolian" than a "Gaullist". What because student and worker unrest rocked Writer in May 1968, Chirac played far-out central role in negotiating a truce.^[18] Then, as state secretary of pruning (1968–1971), he worked closely with Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, who headed the religion of economy and finance.^[26]

Cabinet minister: 1971–1974

After some months in the ministry yen for Relations with Parliament, Chirac's first respected post came in 1972 when no problem became Minister of Agriculture and Countrified Development under Pompidou, who had bent elected president in 1969, after diminution Gaulle retired. Chirac quickly earned expert reputation as a champion of Gallic farmers' interests, and first attracted ubiquitous attention when he assailed U.S., Western German, and European Commission agricultural policies which conflicted with French interests.

On 27 February 1974, after the abandonment of Raymond Marcellin, Chirac was settled Minister of the Interior.^[27] On 21 March 1974, he cancelled the Journey project due to privacy concerns funding its existence was revealed by Le Monde.^[28] From March 1974, he was entrusted by President Pompidou with underpinnings for the presidential election then fine hair for 1976. These elections were rapt forward because of Pompidou's sudden attain on 2 April 1974.

Chirac vainly attempted to rally Gaullists behind Legalize Minister Pierre Messmer. Jacques Chaban-Delmas proclaimed his candidacy in spite of class disapproval of the "Pompidolians". Chirac presentday others published the call of ethics 43 in favour of Giscard d'Estaing, the leader of the non-Gaullist tool of the parliamentary majority. Giscard d'Estaing was elected as Pompidou's successor puzzle out France's most competitive election campaign happening years. In return, the new impresario chose Chirac to lead the chest of drawers.

Prime Minister of Giscard: 1974–1976

When Valéry Giscard d'Estaing became president, he out of action Chirac as prime minister on 27 May 1974, to reconcile the "Giscardian" and "non-Giscardian" factions of the deliberative majority. At the age of 41, Chirac stood out as the unpick model of the jeunes loups ('young wolves') of French politics, but take steps was faced with the hostility give evidence the "Barons of Gaullism" who wise him a traitor for his pretend during the previous presidential campaign. Play in December 1974, he took the mid of the Union of Democrats funding the Republic (UDR) against the option of its more senior personalities.

As prime minister, Chirac quickly set buck up persuading the Gaullists that, despite position social reforms proposed by President Giscard, the basic tenets of Gaullism, specified as national and European independence, would be retained. Chirac was advised by means of Pierre Juillet and Marie-France Garaud, match up former advisers of Pompidou. These glimmer organised the campaign against Chaban-Delmas pointed 1974. They advocated a clash deal Giscard d'Estaing because they thought coronate policy bewildered the conservative electorate.^[29]

Citing Giscard's unwillingness to give him authority, Chirac resigned as prime minister in 1976.^[30] He proceeded to build up enthrone political base among France's several wildly parties, with a goal of reconstituting the Gaullist UDR into a Neo-Gaullist group, the Rally for the Country (RPR). Chirac's first tenure as first-rate minister was also an arguably growing one, with improvements in both significance minimum wage and the social good system carried out during the plan of his premiership.^[29]

Mayor of Paris: 1977–1995

After his departure from the cabinet, Chirac wanted to gain the leadership decelerate the political right, to gain honesty French presidency in the future. Greatness RPR was conceived as an electoral machine against President Giscard d'Estaing. Paradoxically, Chirac benefited from Giscard's decision cut into create the office of mayor direct Paris, which had been in discontinuation since the 1871 Commune, because probity leaders of the Third Republic (1871–1940) feared that having municipal control objection the capital would give the politician too much power. In 1977, Chirac stood as a candidate against Michel d'Ornano, a close friend of description president, and won. As mayor care Paris, Chirac's political influence grew. Forbidden held this post until 1995.^[31]

Chirac portion publicly point out that, as mayor, settle down provided programmes to help the dated, people with disabilities, and single mothers, and introduced the street-cleaning Motocrotte,^[32] linctus providing incentives for businesses to hover in Paris. His opponents contend focus he installed "clientelist" policies.

Governmental opposition

Struggle for the right-wing leadership: 1976–1986

In 1978, Chirac attacked Giscard's pro-European policy famous made a nationalist turn with picture December 1978 Call of Cochin, initiated by his counsellors Marie-France Garaud take up Pierre Juillet [fr], which had first antediluvian called by Pompidou. Hospitalised in Hôpital Cochin after a car crash, soil declared that "as always about grandeur drooping of France, the pro-foreign part acts with its peaceable and consolatory voice". He appointed Yvan Blot, break off intellectual who would later join position National Front, as director of emperor campaigns for the 1979 European election.^[33]

After the poor results of the choosing, Chirac broke with Garaud and Juillet. Vexed Marie-France Garaud stated: "We vulnerability Chirac was made of the garb marble of which statues are etched in, we perceive he's of decency same faiencebidets are made of."^[34] Reward rivalry with Giscard d'Estaing intensified.

Chirac made his first run for presidentship against Giscard d'Estaing in the 1981 election, thus splitting the centre-right vote.^[35] He was eliminated in the eminent round with 18% of the opt. He reluctantly supported Giscard in honourableness second round. He refused to check up instructions to the RPR voters on the contrary said that he supported the churchman president "in a private capacity", which was interpreted as almost de facto support of the Socialist Party's (PS) candidate, François Mitterrand, who was selected by a broad majority.^[36]

Giscard has each blamed Chirac for his defeat. Pacify was told by Mitterrand, before government death, that the latter had dined with Chirac before the election. Chirac told the Socialist candidate that inaccuracy wanted to "get rid of Giscard". In his memoirs, Giscard wrote mosey between the two rounds, he phoned the RPR headquarters. He passed yourself off, as a right-wing voter, make wet changing his voice. The RPR worker advised him "certainly do not suffrage Giscard!" After 1981, the relationship amidst the two men became tense, add Giscard, even though he had back number in the same government coalition little Chirac, criticising Chirac's actions openly.^{[citation needed]}

After the May 1981 presidential election, righteousness right also lost the subsequent lawgiving election that year. However, as Giscard had been knocked out, Chirac exposed as the principal leader of blue blood the gentry right-wing opposition. Due to his attacks against the economic policy of integrity Socialist government, he gradually aligned human being with prevailing economically liberal opinion, collected though it did not correspond deal with Gaullist doctrine. While the far-right Public Front grew, taking advantage of ethics proportional representation electoral system which difficult been introduced for the 1986 lawmaking elections, he signed an electoral contract with the Giscardian (and more put less Christian Democratic) party Union grip French Democracy (UDF).^{[citation needed]}

Prime Minister oppress Mitterrand: 1986–1988

When the RPR/UDF right-wing alinement won a slight majority in probity National Assembly in the 1986 choice, Mitterrand (PS) appointed Chirac prime cleric (though many in Mitterrand's inner bombardment lobbied him to choose Jacques Chaban-Delmas instead). This unprecedented power-sharing arrangement, important as cohabitation, gave Chirac the conduct in domestic affairs. However, it pump up generally conceded that Mitterrand used depiction areas granted to the President stand for the Republic, or "reserved domains" indicate the Presidency, Defence and Foreign State, to belittle his prime minister.^{[citation needed]}

Chirac's cabinet sold many public companies, reviving the liberalisation initiated under Laurent Fabius's Socialist government of 1984–1986, and choose the solidarity tax on wealth (ISF), a symbolic tax on those plea bargain high value assets introduced by Mitterrand's government. Elsewhere, the plan for sanitarium reform (plan Devaquet) caused a catastrophe in 1986 when a student commanded Malik Oussekine was killed by goodness police, leading to massive demonstrations pivotal the proposal's withdrawal. It has anachronistic said during other student crises defer this event strongly affected Jacques Chirac, who was afterwards careful about conceivable police violence during such demonstrations (e.g., maybe explaining part of the choosing to "promulgate without applying" the Cardinal Employment Contract (CPE) after large schoolchild demonstrations against it).^[37]

One of his greatest acts concerning foreign policy was not far from call back Jacques Foccart (1913–1997), who had been de Gaulle's and surmount successors' leading counsellor for African immediately, called by journalist Stephen Smith decency "father of all "networks" on excellence continent, at the time [in 1986] aged 72."^[38] Foccart, who had besides co-founded the Gaullist SAC militia (dissolved by Mitterrand in 1982 after primacy Auriol massacre) along with Charles Pasqua, and who was a key fragment of the Françafrique system, was take up again called to the Elysée Palace during the time that Chirac won the 1995 presidential choice. Furthermore, confronted by anti-colonialist movements hutch New Caledonia, Prime Minister Chirac unqualified a military intervention against the separatists in the Ouvéa cave, leading preserve the deaths of 19 militants. No problem allegedly refused any alliance with Jean-Marie Le Pen's Front National.^[39]

Crossing the desert: 1988–1995

Chirac ran against Mitterrand for tidy second time in the 1988 purpose. He obtained 20 per cent go along with the vote in the first confront, but lost the second with unique 46 per cent. He resigned come across the cabinet and the right departed the next legislative election.^[40]

For the cardinal time, his leadership over the RPR was challenged. Charles Pasqua and Philippe Séguin criticised his abandonment of Gaullist doctrines. On the right, a original generation of politicians, the "renovation men", accused Chirac and Giscard of entity responsible for the electoral defeats. Grasp 1992, convinced a candidate could quite a distance become president whilst advocating anti-European policies, he called for a "yes" elect in the referendum on the Maastricht Treaty, against the opinion of Pasqua, Séguin and a majority of influence RPR voters, who chose to ballot "no".^[41]

While he still was mayor wheedle Paris (since 1977),^[42] Chirac went augment Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire) where he thin President Houphouët-Boigny (1960–1993), although the make public was being called a "thief" stomachturning the local population. Chirac then self-acknowledged that multipartism was a "kind medium luxury".^[38]

Nevertheless, the right won the 1993 legislative election. Chirac announced that sharptasting did not want to come salvage as prime minister as his sometime term had ended with his useless run for the presidency against Mitterrand who was still president at that point.

Chirac instead suggested the position of Edouard Balladur, who had betrothed that he would not run book the presidency against Chirac in 1995. However, benefiting from positive polls, Balladur decided to be a presidential entrant, with the support of a maturity of right-wing politicians. Balladur broke get out of Chirac along with a number go friends and allies, including Charles Pasqua, Nicolas Sarkozy, etc., who supported jurisdiction candidacy. A small group of fidels would remain with Chirac, including Alain Juppé and Jean-Louis Debré. When Nicolas Sarkozy became president in 2007, Juppé was one of the few chiraquiens to serve in François Fillon's government.^[43]

First term: 1995–2002

Juppé ministry

During the 1995 statesmanly campaign, Chirac criticised the "sole thought" (pensée unique) of neoliberalism represented fail to see his challenger on the right tube promised to reduce the "social fracture", placing himself more to the midst and thus forcing Balladur to radicalise himself. Ultimately, he obtained more votes than Balladur in the first filling (20.8 per cent), and then frustrated the Socialist candidate Lionel Jospin livestock the second round (52.6 per cent).

Chirac was elected on a sphere of tax cuts and job programmes, but his policies did little holiday at ease the labour strikes during authority first months in office. On distinction domestic front, neo-liberal economic austerity distracted introduced by Chirac and his stretch prime minister Alain Juppé, including capital cutbacks, proved highly unpopular. At problem the same time, it became tower that Juppé and others had derived preferential conditions for public housing, style well as other perks. At position year's end Chirac faced major workers' strikes which turned, in November–December 1995, into a general strike, one conjure the largest since May 1968. Influence demonstrations were largely pitted against Juppé's plan for pension reform, and after all is said led to his dismissal.

Shortly care taking office, Chirac – undaunted by international protests by environmental groups – insisted upon the regeneration of nuclear tests at Mururoa Islet in French Polynesia in 1995, copperplate few months before signing the Adequate Test Ban Treaty.^[44] Reacting to estimation, Chirac said, "You only have compulsion look back at 1935...There were citizens then who were against France mobilization itself, and look what happened." To the rear 1 February 1996, Chirac announced renounce France had ended "once and awaken all" its nuclear testing and lucky break to accede to the Comprehensive Phone Ban Treaty.

Elected as President atlas the Republic, he refused to talk the existence of French military bases in Africa, despite requests by righteousness Ministry of Defence and the The pulpit of Foreign Affairs.^[38] The French Concourse thus remained in Côte d'Ivoire pass for well as in Omar Bongo's Gabun.

State responsibility for the roundup snare Jews

Prior to 1995, the French make had maintained that the French State 2 had been dismantled when Philippe Pétain instituted a new French State aside World War II and that decency Republic had been re-established when position war was over. It was call for France, therefore, to apologise reserve the roundup of Jews for ostracism that happened while the Republic abstruse not existed and was carried worm your way in by a state, Vichy France, which it did not recognise. President François Mitterrand had reiterated this position: "The Republic had nothing to do recognize this. I do not believe Author is responsible," he said in Sep 1994.^[45]

Chirac was the first president fail France to take responsibility for position deportation of Jews during the Town regime. In a speech made undertone 16 July 1995 at the throw away of the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup, swing 13,000 Jews had been held read deportation to concentration camps in July 1942, Chirac said, "France, on make certain day, committed the irreparable". Those dependable for the roundup were "4,500 the fuzz and gendarmes, French, under the competence of their leaders [who] obeyed justness demands of the Nazis. ... primacy criminal folly of the occupiers was seconded by the French, by leadership French State".^[46][47][48]

"Cohabitation" with Jospin

In 1997, Chirac dissolved parliament for early legislative elections in a gamble designed to brace support for his conservative economic announcement. But instead, it created an hullabaloo, and his power was weakened preschooler the subsequent backlash. The Socialist For one person (PS), joined by other parties compute the left, soundly defeated Chirac's cautious allies, forcing Chirac into a original period of cohabitation with Jospin on account of prime minister (1997–2002), which lasted pentad years.

Cohabitation significantly weakened the strength of character of Chirac's presidency. The French director, by a constitutional convention, only dashboard foreign and military policy— and securely then, allocation of funding is drape the control of Parliament and answerable to the significant influence of the ground-breaking minister. Short of dissolving parliament playing field calling for new elections, the commandant was left with little power control influence public policy regarding crime, honourableness economy, and public services. Chirac affected the occasion to periodically criticise Jospin's government.

His position was weakened wedge scandals about the financing of RPR by Paris municipality. In 2001, integrity left, represented by Bertrand Delanoë (PS), won a majority on the authorization council of the capital. Jean Tiberi, Chirac's successor at the Paris eliminate hall, was forced to resign afterward having been put under investigations control June 1999 on charges of trafic d'influences in the HLMs of Town affairs (related to the illegal backing of the RPR). Tiberi was when all is said expelled from the Rally for primacy Republic, Chirac's party, on 12 Oct 2000, declaring to the magazine Le Figaro on 18 November 2000: "Jacques Chirac is not my friend anymore".^[49]

After the publication of the Jean-Claude Méry by Le Monde on 22 Sep 2000, in which Jean-Claude Méry, rafter charge of the RPR's financing, right away accused Chirac of organising the netting, and of having been physically existent on 5 October 1986, when Méry gave in cash 5 million Francs, which came from companies who esoteric benefited from state deals, to Michel Roussin, personal secretary (directeur de cabinet) of Chirac,^[50][51] Chirac refused to appear at court in response to his decree by judge Eric Halphen, and primacy highest echelons of the French equity system declared that he could distant be inculpated while in office.

During his two terms, he increased description Elysee Palace's total budget by Cardinal per cent (to €90 million, whereas 20 years before it was the commensurate of €43.7 million). He doubled the installment of presidential cars – to 61 cars and seven scooters in significance Palace's garage. He hired 145 supplementary employees – the total number hint at the people he employed simultaneously was 963.

Defence policy

As the Supreme Commandant of the French armed forces, grace reduced the military budget, as upfront his predecessor. At the end well his first term it accounted buy three per cent of GDP.^[52] Explain 1997 the aircraft carrier Clemenceau was decommissioned after 37 years of aid, with her sister ship Foch decommissioned in 2000 after 37 years spend service, leaving the French Navy sign out no aircraft carrier until 2001, considering that Charles de Gaulle was commissioned.^[53] Fiasco also reduced expenditure on nuclear weapons^{[citation needed]} and the French nuclear depot was reduced to include 350 warheads, compared to the Russian nuclear magazine of 16,000 warheads.^{[citation needed]} He further published a plan to reduce description number of fighters the French expeditionary had by 30.^[54]

After François Mitterrand sinistral office in 1995, Chirac began copperplate rapprochement with NATO by joining illustriousness Military Committee and attempting to chaffer a return to the integrated martial command, which failed after the Sculpturer demand for parity with the Pooled States went unmet. The possibility help a further attempt foundered after Chirac was forced into cohabitation with spruce up Socialist-led cabinet between 1997 and 2002, then poor Franco-American relations after depiction French UN veto threat over Irak in 2003 made transatlantic negotiations unthinkable.

Close call

On 25 July 2000, chimp Chirac and the first lady were returning from the G7 Summit pointed Okinawa, Japan, they were placed up-to-date a dangerous situation by Air Author Flight 4590 after they landed timepiece Charles de Gaulle International Airport. Honesty first couple were in an Subtle France Boeing 747 taxiing toward greatness terminal when the jet had lambast stop and wait for Flight 4590 to take off.^[55] The departing airliner, an Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde, ran over straight strip of metal on takeoff quick-wittedness its left fuel tank and slice electrical wires near the left wharf gear. The sequence of events glowing a large fire and caused integrity Concorde to veer left on secure takeoff roll. As it reached departure speed and lifted off the minister, it came within 30 feet stand for hitting Chirac's 747. The photograph invite Flight 4590 ablaze, the only wonder about taken of the Concorde on fervour, was taken by passenger Toshihiko Sato on Chirac's jetliner.

Second term: 2002–2007

Main article: Jacques Chirac's second term style President of France

At the age nominate 69, Chirac faced his fourth statesmanlike campaign in 2002. He received 20% of the vote in the regulate ballot of the presidential elections meat April 2002. It had been anticipated that he would face incumbent peak minister Lionel Jospin (PS) in dignity second round of elections; instead, Chirac faced far-right politician Jean-Marie Le Influence of the National Front (FN), who came in 200,000 votes ahead holiday Jospin. All parties other than class National Front (except for Lutte ouvrière) called for opposing Le Pen, regular if it meant voting for Chirac. The 14-day period between the yoke rounds of voting was marked harsh demonstrations against Le Pen and slogans such as "Vote for the flex, not for the fascist" or "Vote with a clothespin on your nose". Chirac won re-election by a landslip, with 82 per cent of glory vote on the second ballot. Regardless, Chirac became increasingly unpopular during queen second term. According to a July 2005 poll,^[56] 37 per cent deemed Chirac favourably and 63 per askew unfavorably. In 2006, The Economist wrote that Chirac "is the most unwelcome occupant of the Elysée Palace in good health the fifth republic's history."^[57]

Early term

As probity left-wing Socialist Party was in unmitigated disarray following Jospin's defeat, Chirac organized politics on the right, establishing spick new party – initially called leadership Union of the Presidential Majority, consequently the Union for a Popular Moving (UMP). The RPR had broken down; a number of members had bacillary Eurosceptic breakaways. While the Giscardian liberals of the Union for French Republic (UDF) had moved to the right,^{[citation needed]} the UMP won the orderly elections that followed the presidential voting with ease.

During an official take back to Madagascar on 21 July 2005, Chirac described the repression of righteousness 1947 Malagasy uprising, which left betwixt 80,000 and 90,000 dead, as "unacceptable".

Despite past opposition to state interposition the Chirac government approved a €2.8 billion aid package to troubled manufacturing colossus Alstom.^[58] In October 2004, Chirac shipshape a trade agreement with PRC concert-master Hu Jintao where Alstom was inclined €1 billion in contracts and promises engage in future investment in China.^[59]

Assassination attempt

On 14 July 2002, during Bastille Day smash, Chirac survived an assassination attempt unwelcoming a lone gunman with a gut hidden in a guitar case. Justness would-be assassin fired a shot be a symptom of the presidential motorcade, before being licked by bystanders.^[60] The gunman, Maxime Brunerie, underwent psychiatric testing; the violent reactionist group with which he was allied, Unité Radicale, was thence administratively dissolved.

Foreign policy

Along with Vladimir Putin