Ex-French President Chirac has died: AFP

[snoop1130]

Ex-French President Chirac has died: AFP

 

FILE PHOTO: Former French President Jacques Chirac arrives to attend the award ceremony for the Prix de la Fondation Chirac at the Quai Branly Museum in Paris November 21, 2014. REUTERS/Patrick Kovarik/Pool/File Photo

 

PARIS (Reuters) - Former French president Jacques Chirac, who led France from 1995 to 2007, has died, Agence France Presse news agency reported on Thursday.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-09-26

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[Opl]

  

[webfact]

Former French president Jacques Chirac dies, aged 86

By Sophie Louet and Michel Rose

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Bill Clinton, French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl speak together as they attend the signing of the Bosnian peace agreement at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, December 14, 1995. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo

 

PARIS (Reuters) - Former President Jacques Chirac, a political chameleon who dominated French politics for decades and strived to make France's voice heard in Europe and beyond, died on Thursday at the age of 86.

 

Chirac was president from 1995 to 2007. He shaped his style in the mould of post-war leader Charles de Gaulle, seeking to strengthen France's status as a player on the world stage and was best remembered for his opposition to the war in Iraq.

 

The National Assembly interrupted a sitting to hold a minute's silence. President Emmanuel Macron cancelled a public engagement and declared a national day of mourning for Monday. The lights on the Eiffel Tower were turned off.

 

"The president embodied a certain idea of France," Macron said in a televised address. "A France that is independent and proud, and was able to stand up against an unjustified military intervention."

 

Chirac passed away peacefully surrounded by his loved ones, his son-in-law Frederic Salat-Baroux told Reuters.

 

Mayor of Paris for 18 years and prime minister for presidents on the political left and right before entering the Elysee Palace himself, Chirac had a knack for connecting with voters, particularly in rural France.

 

"Jacques Chirac knew how to form a personal bond with the French people," said former socialist President Francois Hollande. "France was in his blood. He explored every corner, tasted every local delicacy."

 

Five years after leaving office, Chirac was found guilty in December 2012 of abusing public funds as Paris mayor, making him the first head of state convicted since Nazi collaborator Marshal Philippe Petain in 1945.

 

But he served no jail time and the saga did little to tarnish his image.

 

IRAQ

His defiant opposition to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq brought his relationship with then British Prime Minister Tony Blair to an acrimonious low, but Blair said he was deeply saddened by his passing.

 

"He was a towering figure in French and European politics over many decades. Whatever our differences from time to time, he was always unfailingly kind, generous and personally supportive," Blair said in a statement.

 

Blair's predecessor, John Major, praised "a supreme politician". "Although he was forever impulsive - and often brave - once he gave his word it was, in my own experience, invariably honoured," he said.

 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said his loss would be felt throughout France, "across the generations".

 

In Europe, Chirac became one of the bloc's main standard bearers. He forged an alliance with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder which brought Europe's two traditional powers closer together but upset some of their European Union partners.

 

He said of Eastern European countries that supported then-U.S. President George W. Bush's coalition in Iraq that they had "missed a good opportunity to keep quiet".

 

Chancellor Angela Merkel called Chirac a "great partner and friend to us Germans". Jean-Claude Juncker, the outgoing leader of the European Union executive, said the continent had lost a man of strong convictions.

 

Figures from French political life, including some who had locked horns with Chirac in the past, also paid tribute.

 

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen said despite political differences with Chirac "he was able to oppose the madness of the war in Iraq".

 

Chirac was born in 1932 in Paris. He studied at the elite Sciences Po university and ENA civil service academy, and served as an army officer. By 1967, he had become a junior minister and was just 41 when he became prime minister in 1974.

 

He left the government and by 1977 was elected as Paris's first mayor, a job he would keep for 18 years, until his election as president in 1995. He won a second term in 2002, after a fraught battle with far-right challenger Jean-Marie Le Pen, father of Marine Le Pen.

 

During his career, Chirac had flirted with Communism and ultra-nationalism before settling on mainstream right-of-centre politics, earning him the nickname "Chameleon Bonaparte".

 

Another of his nicknames was "Houdini", a reference to his knack for managing to escape serious punishment, despite the allegations of misuse of funds.

 

In the last years of his life, he suffered from neurological problems and was rarely seen in public. He lived quietly with his wife, Bernadette, in a Left Bank apartment, and worked on his memoirs.

 

(Reporting by Paris bureau, Writing by Christian Lowe and Richard Lough; Editing by Jon Boyle, Angus MacSwan and Philippa Fletcher)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-09-27

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[pegman]

 His greatest accomplishment may have been standing up to Blair and Bush and their nonsense reason for going to war in Iraq. He should be commended for that while those other two are condemned for all time.

[Tug]

I rember as well it took great courage to go against bush rip sir

[30la]

It is a consolation to know that you too die!

[mfd101]

In his personal life of course a slime. No female was safe within 20 metres of him. It only took 10 seconds ...

 

Slippery & corrupt in his politics too. And a do-nothing President for 12 years.

[Momofarang]

53 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

In his personal life of course a slime. No female was safe within 20 metres of him. It only took 10 seconds ...

 

Slippery & corrupt in his politics too. And a do-nothing President for 12 years.

Power, Women, Food, Friends and the country; in that order.

[UnkleGoooose]

An architect and keen supporter of the EU. Good riddance.

[Morch]

2 hours ago, mfd101 said:

In his personal life of course a slime. No female was safe within 20 metres of him. It only took 10 seconds ...

 

Slippery & corrupt in his politics too. And a do-nothing President for 12 years.

 

"....It only took 10 seconds ..."

 

Wasn't aware he had this problem.

[JAG]

During the furore over the Invasion of Iraq a Commonwealth War Memorial in France was daubed with paint.

 

M. Chirac sent a handwritten letter, in English, to Her Majesty The Queen to apologise. It was conveyed by a very senior Officer in the French Army

Edited September 27, 2019 by JAG

[khunken]

A very adept politician, skilled diplomat & proven 100% correct to refuse to swallow the lies & propaganda about 'dangerous' Iraq.

His successor, Sarkozy, unfortunately started a trend in buffoon leadership that has (hopefully) peaked currently.

RIP Sir.

Edited September 27, 2019 by khunken

[248900_1469958220]

Never trust a man that pulls his trousers up that high!  NO reason for trousers to go above the belly button. If I see a man walking toward me with his pants that high and a silly grin on his face, I either assume he is a simpleton or a pedo

[Benmart]

11 hours ago, pegman said:

 His greatest accomplishment may have been standing up to Blair and Bush and their nonsense reason for going to war in Iraq. He should be commended for that while those other two are condemned for all time.

I don't know who decides who is condemned for what. In this particular case, it is a personal decision and one I keep to myself.

 

Edited September 27, 2019 by Benmart
Reword to not offend

[plfomylo]

One less corrupt politics to pay retirement for.

I wish that they all die faster.

No respect for him and his family.

 

[Opl]

On 9/27/2019 at 10:29 AM, 248900_1469958220 said:

Never trust a man that pulls his trousers up that high!  NO reason for trousers to go above the belly button. If I see a man walking toward me with his pants that high and a silly grin on his face, I either assume he is a simpleton or a pedo

what would you say… 

 

[Opl]

[Opl]

jACQUES CHIRAC, SO FRENCH - part 1

Edited September 29, 2019 by Opl

[Opl]

JACQUES CHIRAC, SO FRENCH: part 2

"“It is up to you to finally build up a reconciled Bosnia and Herzegovina which will enjoy respect within the country and internationally, which will use its diversity as an advantage, a country united around common ideals of peace and tolerance,”

Chirac contributed greatly to ending the war in the country, was behind an initiative to form an EU force which played a key role in establishing peace in the country.

 

 

Edited September 29, 2019 by Opl

[Opl]

“While speaking of Africa, we must check our memory. We started draining the continent four and a half centuries ago with the slave trade. Next, we discovered their raw materials and seized them. Having deprived Africans of their wealth, we sent in our elites who destroyed their culture. Now, we are depriving them of their brains thanks to scholarships which are definitely another form of exploitation because, at the end, the most intelligent students do not go back to their countries […] In the end, noticing that Africa is not in a good state and as bonuses for the wealth we made on its back, we are giving lectures…”.

this was truly said by Jacques Chirac. He said this in January 2001

 

 

[kingofthemountain]

10 minutes ago, Opl said:

“While speaking of Africa, we must check our memory. We started draining the continent four and a half centuries ago with the slave trade. Next, we discovered their raw materials and seized them. Having deprived Africans of their wealth, we sent in our elites who destroyed their culture. Now, we are depriving them of their brains thanks to scholarships which are definitely another form of exploitation because, at the end, the most intelligent students do not go back to their countries […] In the end, noticing that Africa is not in a good state and as bonuses for the wealth we made on its back, we are giving lectures…”.

this was truly said by Jacques Chirac. He said this in January 2001

 

 

BS

 

(The worst slave trade was done by the arabs, the colonisation have had a balanced result

with good and bad side, the scolarship system is a demand from the origin's countries

of the students, and so on...)

 

In reality it was a politic speech to have the votes of the 5 to 10 millions of africans living in France

for the presidential election of april 2002

 

 

 

 

[Opl]

"Chirac saw western civilisation as the perpetrator of genocides. Jacques Chirac grew up in the 20th century, which saw a revolution in the way western cultures viewed distant cultures,” Aillagon explained.  “We travelled a great distance;  from contempt to consideration, from consideration to respect and, at last, to admiration.”

He was an art-loving, anthropologist politician.

[Opl]

29 minutes ago, kingofthemountain said:

BS

 

(The worst slave trade was done by the arabs, the colonisation have had a balanced result

with good and bad side, the scolarship system is a demand from the origin's countries

of the students, and so on...)

 

In reality it was a politic speech to have the votes of the 5 to 10 millions of africans living in France

for the presidential election of april 2002

 

 

 

 

Chirac was a politician who as such was opportunist enough to be elected twice. 

Chirac alsways stood up against the National Front, and other far-right parties, and this only got him elected. 

(From the middle of the 17th to the mid-19th century, France organized at least 4220 slave shipments, most of them led by the shipowners of Nantes, Le Havre, La Rochelle, Bordeaux)

Edited September 29, 2019 by Opl

[kingofthemountain]

49 minutes ago, Opl said:

Chirac was a politician who as such was opportunist enough to be elected twice. 

Chirac alsways stood up against the National Front, and other far-right parties, and this only got him elected. 

(From the middle of the 17th to the mid-19th century, France organized at least 4220 slave shipments, most of them led by the shipowners of Nantes, Le Havre, La Rochelle, Bordeaux)

France has lost 12 precious years with him as president

do you knew he was nicknamed ''the lazy king'' ?

the following presidents were even worse.

 

(...''According to research provided by Emory University[13] as well as Henry Louis Gates Jr., an estimated 12.5 million slaves were transported from Africa to colonies in North and South America. The website Voyages: The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database assembles data regarding past trafficking in slaves from Africa. It shows that the top four nations were Portugal, Great Britain, France, and Spain.

Spain       Portugal       Great Britain  Netherlands  U.S.A     .France      Denmark

1,061,524  5,848,266     3,259,441        554336       305,326   1,381,404   111,040  

 

so it seems it was unfortunely quite common at the time, very bad i agree but common.

The repentance and self flagellation 200 years later, from only one president of one nation, with people actualy alive who have never been involved in the system doesn't make any sense, unless yo have to satisfy some integrists associations having some influence on the electors)

 

[Opl]

3 hours ago, kingofthemountain said:

France has lost 12 precious years with him as president

do you knew he was nicknamed ''the lazy king'' ?

the following presidents were even worse.

 

(...''According to research provided by Emory University[13] as well as Henry Louis Gates Jr., an estimated 12.5 million slaves were transported from Africa to colonies in North and South America. The website Voyages: The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database assembles data regarding past trafficking in slaves from Africa. It shows that the top four nations were Portugal, Great Britain, France, and Spain.

Spain       Portugal       Great Britain  Netherlands  U.S.A     .France      Denmark

1,061,524  5,848,266     3,259,441        554336       305,326   1,381,404   111,040  

 

so it seems it was unfortunely quite common at the time, very bad i agree but common.

The repentance and self flagellation 200 years later, from only one president of one nation, with people actualy alive who have never been involved in the system doesn't make any sense, unless yo have to satisfy some integrists associations having some influence on the electors)

 

1/ When you say " In reality it was a politic speech to have the votes of the 5 to 10 millions of africans living in France ", I'd remind you that foreigners don't vote for presidential  election. So I understant you're talking about non-white French. And you can't say how many they are, for France does'nt have population data based upon skin colour.  

 

2/ He was nicknamed by Sarkozy who campaigned to become his successor. That's fair game but it's not the reality for the whole period of his 2 mandates. French people are prompt to take to the streets and harm their own country when they oppose unpopular but necessary measures . See the yellow vest demonstrators, and how Macron has to deal with his opponents from almost all of the political spectrum. Do I need to remind you of the French Revolution and the guillotine , lol… 

 

3/ Slavery is a crime against humanity, not just as you said " very bad". To recognize it - as well to claim responsibility for the Vichy's government participation to the deportation of Jews are no acts of repentance and self flagellation; to assume past acts for what they were is the price to pay to be proud to be French today IMHO, this allows France to have its say on the worldstage as a non arrogant western nation, in line with it's Declaration of the Man and the Citizen. For this legacy, France is not a nation like any other.

 

4/ Chirac with all his flaws according to his detractors did also a lot all his public life long to support and protect those hit hard - be bit by unemployment, disabilities, cancer, etc..

 

5/ he said "no" to Irak war without a UN mandate, and he was right - consider now the disastrous conséquences on Europe of the "mission accomplished" - one of them being mass immigration flows of real and fake asylum seekers, the rise of human, arms and  and drug  traffickings, the islamisation of radicalisation, etc, etc...

 

6/ and in regards of your last concern, the areas where the people you're worrying about have low voters turn out when élections are held.. in opposition to the far-right electorate.     

       

Edited September 29, 2019 by Opl

[mfd101]

As Nouvel Obs commented yesterday, he was better at getting in to power than at exercising it. No economic vision for France. Just hot air.

 

As one could, of course, say of all too many politicians everywhere in the world.

[kingofthemountain]

4 hours ago, Opl said:

5/ he said "no" to Irak war without a UN mandate, and he was right

You are right on that

sorry but imo all yours others development are bs

i could demonstrate it point by point with facts and evidence but it

take time and place and could be boring for the others and off topic.

so have a nice day