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Chirac Walks Out Of Speech In English
The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 3-24-2006 | David Rennie - Toby Helm

Posted on 03/23/2006 8:04:39 PM PST by blam

Chirac walks out of speech in English

By David Rennie and Toby Helm in Brussels
(Filed: 24/03/2006)

President Jacques Chirac of France stormed out of a European Union summit last night after a French employers' leader said that English was "the language of European business".

Jacques Chirac: Intensely nationalistic mood

The walk-out, seen by Tony Blair, prompted a sheepish exit by the French foreign, finance and Europe ministers and threatened to derail the summit before it had begun.

The meeting had been called to try to fight a wave of "economic nationalism" sweeping the Continent, as France, Spain and other nations seek to erect barriers to cross-border competition.

Mr Chirac's behaviour, in front of two dozen European leaders, was seen as a sign that he and his team were in intensely nationalistic mood.

It emerged that the president's spokesman had gone out his way to inform the press of the incident.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: chirac; english; out; speech; walks
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1 posted on 03/23/2006 8:04:43 PM PST by blam
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To: blam
Surrender kitty sez: "Those frogs are lucky it ain't German that's the language" Image hosting by Photobucket
2 posted on 03/23/2006 8:09:32 PM PST by dynachrome ("Where am I? Where am I going? Why am I in a handbasket?")
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To: blam

Good Grief, what a bunch of silly Europeans...everyone knows that you had better learn Spanish if you want to survive in this world.


3 posted on 03/23/2006 8:10:48 PM PST by txroadkill
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To: All

Hard to figure out who to cheer for in all of this.


4 posted on 03/23/2006 8:11:07 PM PST by pepperhead (Kennedy's float, Mary Jo's don't!)
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To: blam
If only the French could handle their riots with such courage.
5 posted on 03/23/2006 8:11:15 PM PST by Psycho_Bunny
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To: Psycho_Bunny

No kidding. "Nationalist mood" my ass.


6 posted on 03/23/2006 8:12:24 PM PST by Caveman Lawyer (Cluckin' defiance)
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To: blam

He had to walk out. Chirac realized he hadn't quit anything yet that day.


7 posted on 03/23/2006 8:12:56 PM PST by Nomorjer Kinov (If the opposite of "pro" is "con" , what is the opposite of progress?)
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To: txroadkill
Last seen the president was carrying a white flag while sipping on a glass of Bordeaux and cursing in French no less.
8 posted on 03/23/2006 8:14:43 PM PST by Kimmers
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To: blam

Le Puss


9 posted on 03/23/2006 8:17:37 PM PST by keithtoo (It's STILL not safe to vote Democrat)
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To: blam

Silly argument. Everyone knows the "official" language of Europe is Arabic.


10 posted on 03/23/2006 8:20:54 PM PST by neodad (USS Vincennes (CG-49) Freedom's Fortress)
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To: dynachrome

Little fuzzy tummie!


11 posted on 03/23/2006 8:23:26 PM PST by BunnySlippers
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To: All

LOL, alles in dem Frankreich sind Dumkopfen.


12 posted on 03/23/2006 8:23:37 PM PST by Malcolm (There's no substitute for good manners)
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To: blam

French President Jacques Chirac leaves the European Council building during a two-day EU leaders summit in Brussels March 23, 2006. REUTERS/Thierry Roge

13 posted on 03/23/2006 8:25:49 PM PST by AmericanMade1776
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To: AmericanMade1776

French President Jacques Chirac waits at the end of the first day of a EU leaders summit in Brussels March 23, 2006. Chirac walked out of a European Union summit on Thursday after a French business leader spoke in English, adding linguistic patriotism to a row over economic nationalism. REUTERS/Yves Herman

14 posted on 03/23/2006 8:27:08 PM PST by AmericanMade1776
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To: blam

And now Johnny, adults solve their problems by not throwing tantrums.


15 posted on 03/23/2006 8:30:04 PM PST by figgers3036
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To: blam
President Jacques Chirac of France stormed out of a European Union summit last night after a French employers' leader said that English was "the language of European business".


16 posted on 03/23/2006 8:30:05 PM PST by JRios1968 (A DUmmie troll's motto: "Non cogito, ergo zot")
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To: blam

Just for fun, Tony Blair and the rest of the insulted EU leaders should conduct the next day or two's business in German - which, along with English, is one of the "official" languages of the EU.


17 posted on 03/23/2006 8:31:55 PM PST by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: blam
Chirac's behavior demonstrates out WHY English has become the language of business in Europe.


Semper Fi
18 posted on 03/23/2006 8:40:01 PM PST by river rat (You may turn the other cheek, but I prefer to look into my enemy's vacant dead eyes.)
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To: Spktyr

...and, so Chirac begins to reap what he sows...


19 posted on 03/23/2006 8:40:01 PM PST by ARCADIA (Abuse of power comes as no surprise)
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To: blam
[A] French employers' leader said that English was "the language of European business".

Truth hurts.

20 posted on 03/23/2006 8:45:54 PM PST by JAWs (Ytringsfrihed er ytringsfrihed er ytringsfrihed. Der er intet men.)
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