The late
French president boasted one of the longest continuous political careers in
Europe; having been mayor of Paris for 18 years, prime minister twice, and
president twice.
Jacques
Chirac was born in 1932 in Paris, of a successful middle-class family. He
married Bernadette Chodron de Courcel,
a member of the Parisian high bourgeoisie in 1956. He volunteered for
the French Army in 1956 during the Algerian war. At age 35, he became one of
the youngest government ministers in France under President Charles de Gaulle.
Jacques
Chirac's time as president may have been marked by inaction and political
stagnation but he will be remembered internationally for leading France's
strong opposition to the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. At the time, approval
ratings for his anti-war stance soared to 90%. A week before the US-led
coalition forces invaded Iraq, he said, “War is always a last resort.
It is always proof of failure. It is always the worst of solutions, because it
brings death and misery." He will also be remembered for the recognition
of France's responsibility for Nazi crimes, the transition to the five-year
presidential term, and his famous "our house is burning" quote in
relation to climate change.
His reputation
was nonetheless damaged by a 2011 conviction for embezzlement. Chirac was
rarely seen in public in recent years, and suffered from memory loss. French
President Emmanuel Macron will address the nation at 8pm Central European
Summer Time.
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