Young Guns Conspire To Get rid Of Chirac

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 7-17-2004 | Philip Delves

[blam]

Young guns conspire to get rid of Chirac

By Philip Delves Broughton in Paris
(Filed: 17/07/2004)

President Jacques Chirac's ambition to run for a third term as president, when he will be 74, has provoked a crisis at the heart of his government and party which has now flared spectacularly into the open.

A younger generation, led by Nicolas Sarkozy, the finance minister, is flagrantly conspiring to end Mr Chirac's political career on their timetable rather than his, ahead of the 2007 presidential election. Rebels say they are tired of his moderation and cronyism and that France desperately needs more dynamic leadership.

In a once unthinkable display of lese-majeste, supporters of Mr Sarkozy booed the president during the Bastille Day garden party at the Élysée Palace after Mr Chirac criticised his finance minister's ambition and manoeuvring in his annual televised interview.

The machinations in the court of the president, the finance minister and their party, the Union pour un Mouvement Populaire, were summed up yesterday on the front page of the newspaper Libération, which showed Mr Sarkozy and Mr Chirac shaking hands beside the headline: "How far will they go?"

The newspapers have been packed for several days with reports from meetings of loyalists on both sides. Mr Chirac's old guard have been rallied for one last stand for their man, while Mr Sarkozy's gunslingers are taking every opportunity to paint the president as well past his prime.

The latest twist came yesterday when Alain Juppé, the former prime minister and Mr Chirac's chosen heir, resigned from the presidency of the party. He had announced his resignation months ago, following his conviction for abusing public funds while he served Mr Chirac when the president was mayor of Paris. His conviction bars him from public office for 10 years, ruling him out of standing for the presidency at the next election.

It is up to Mr Sarkzoy, 49, who is wildly popular among his party's grassroots, whether he wants the party presidency. It would give him control of a rich and powerful electoral machine as well as extensive powers of patronage.

Mr Chirac has said he will not allow any minister to hold a post outside government, despite the fact that he spent most of his career doing that.

In his Bastille Day interview, he said that if any of his ministers won the UMP presidency, "they will resign immediately or I will immediately sack them".

Mr Sarkozy has said he will decide by the end of the summer whether the finance ministry or the party means more to him.

Mr Chirac's determination to stop Mr Sarkozy's ascent, rather than take advantage of his popularity, has depressed many on the French Right. "Nicolas Sarkozy carries many people's hope to be the next president of the republic and it would have been much easier if Jacques Chirac calmly worked for his succession," Bernard Debré, an MP representing the UMP, said yesterday.

During Thursday's cabinet meeting, Mr Chirac was reported to have ignored Mr Sarkozy, who for reasons of protocol always sits next to president. Mr Sarkozy's allies said he would not respond in kind to the president's slap-down, but would concentrate on the issues facing France.

He said on leaving the frosty meeting: "Now is not the time or place to comment, but the French people know very well what I have tried to do for them over the past two and a half years."

Many business leaders, disenchanted by Mr Chirac's timid economic reforms, are backing Mr Sarkozy.

Last night, the minister addressed a UMP rally in La Baule on the Atlantic coast. His supporters say winning control of the party created by Mr Chirac, then turning it against him, would be his greatest act of revenge.

[Chummy]

Getting rid of Chirac? A no-brainer, big time good idea.

But "young guns" and "France" in the same piece?

[McGavin999]

How interesting. Does this mean he's actually a conservative? Or at least as conservative as a frenchman can be?

[Paleo Conservative]

Looks like it's a frog eat frog country.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Mr Chirac's determination to stop Mr Sarkozy's ascent, rather than take advantage of his popularity, has depressed many on the French Right

Someone help me understand the French political structure.. Does "Right" in Franch mean the same as "Right" here in the USA?

[CasearianDaoist]

Right means that some people can actually own large business, if they are in favor with the ruling government bureaucrats that is. It is sort of like being a Democrat in the 1970's

I think we used to call it "fascism," or maybe that was "incipient socialism," I forget.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks.

[Jackson Brown]

As I understand it, Chirac faces multiple corruption and bribery charges when he leaves the presidency (from when he was mayor of Paris).

They were pursued while he was president, but they were quashed because of "procedural errors", along with the question of him being immune from prosecution while in office.

After he is out of office, it is quite possible that he may face these charges again. THAT -- I would think -- would make him want to stay in office for as long as he can

[McGavin999]

No Ernest, but is does mean slightly to the right of communist.

[eleni121]

And he wants to bring back the 40 hour work week...imagine that!

He is very popular and he is described as a Frenchman with a very "Anglo Saxon attitude". I like the sound of that.