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| Bouquets and brickbats for outgoing Chirac |
| Paris, 13.03.2007 |
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| French President Jacques Chirac’s announcement that he will leave frontline politics has brought no end to the controversy over his record and legacy.
US President George Bush, who jousted with Chirac over the Iraq war, sent a diplomatic “all the best” message yesterday, while France’s far-right leader, Jean-Marie Le Pen, called Chirac “the worst president in the history of France”.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday paid tribute to Chirac as a trusted ally.
Chirac’s announcement in a televised address to the nation on Sunday night brought widespread recognition, however, that his departure marks the end of an era.
The French leader, who spearheaded international opposition to the US-led invasion of Iraq, said he would not seek a third term in the election to be held next month.
The quarrel over Iraq caused a deep divide between Chirac and Bush. But the White House said: “President Bush wishes President Chirac all the best as he enters life after politics.
“The US and France have been and will remain steadfast partners and allies.”
Japan was one of the few other governments to comment. “We would appreciate it if he keeps contributing to the good relationship between Japan and France,” chief government spokesman Yasuhisa Shiozaki said.
Since the 1970s, Chirac has travelled about 50 times to Japan, where he has developed a reputation as an enthusiast for sumo wrestling and Japanese art.
In France, Chirac’s impending retirement became a new way to score points in the presidential election battle.
Right-wing candidate, Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, paid tribute to his one-time mentor turned rival — even though Chirac gave no sign on Sunday of whether he would endorse Sarkozy’s election bid.
“Jacques Chirac was dignified, sincere,” Sarkozy told French radio, hailing the president’s “extraordinary energy” and “ability to overcome challenges”.
However, when asked whether he saw himself as Chirac’s natural successor, Sarkozy — who has pledged to break with Chirac’s past policies if elected — replied: “Deep down, I have never felt like anybody’s heir.”
Two other presidential frontrunners, socialist leader Segolene Royal and centrist Francois Bayrou, a former education minister under Chirac, hailed the president’s years of service.
Royal said: “It is a historic moment because a page of history is about to turn. A new page is about to open and the French themselves are going to write it.”
Bayrou acknowledged past confrontations with Chirac, but said: “Tonight above all, I take my hat off to him.” He said that “on foreign policy he was an honourable voice, and a great voice at the moments when France needed one” — a clear reference to Chirac’s defiance of the US over Iraq.
Right-wing firebrand Le Pen, however, celebrated the departure of his “worst enemy” and slammed Chirac as corrupt, in reference to scandals dating back to his time as mayor of Paris.
Chirac was “the worst president in the history of France. I am delighted to be losing my biggest enemy,” said Le Pen, who stunned the French establishment by reaching the second round of the 2002 presidential election. He said Chirac had “led the country to disaster” and stood as a “symbol of political corruption”.
Former socialist prime minister Laurent Fabius said the Chirac era had been “wasted”. Sapa-AFP
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![French President Jacques Chirac addresses the nation from the Elysee palace in Paris, Sunday, May 29, 2005, after French voters massively rejected the first-ever European Union's constitution. [AP]](/foto//f_00519_m.jpg)