A FOND FAREWELL - Chirac Says Adieu, The French Say Bonjour to a New Era

DER SPIEGEL ^ | March 12, 2007 | --

[Atlantic Bridge]

With his farewell speech, French President Jacques Chirac wanted to show the French one last time that his heart and values are in the right place. His people, however, have had enough of big words.

Jacques Chirac went out just as he had come in -- big words and passionate pleas dominated the ceremonial television address at the end of his second term. The 74-year-old president emphasized the country's grandeur, its values and its role in the world -- and announced, as expected, that he would not be seeking a third term.

[Atlantic Bridge]

The according Photo Gallery - Chirac's Bon Mots:

"Mad cow disease is the only thing that they've contributed to European agriculture (...) You can't trust a people who have such bad food." -- Chirac on the British, during a conversation with Gerhard Schröder and Vladimir Putin in 2005.

"I think they missed out on a good opportunity to stay quiet (...) These countries aren't very well brought up and they don't realize the pitfalls that come with taking on the US position too quickly." -- Chirac on Eastern European governments and their pro-US attitude on Iraq, 2006.

"The danger is not the bomb which he'll have. It won't be of any use. Where does he want to drop it, on Israel? It won't be 200 meters in the air before Tehran is eradicated." -- Chirac on the nuclear ambitions of Iranian president Ahmadenijad, February 2007.

"Considering the great number of beautiful girls in Sweden, Stockholm could create a model agency." -- Chirac on European agencies, 2001.

"An election race is the expression of a vision for the future (...) The government's purpose is to manage reality." -- Chirac on the difference between vision and reality, 1999.

"When I was elected (...) I was 32 years old and became a member of the government. (...) I stayed the whole time. The governments changed but I stayed with my furniture." -- Chirac's verdict on his political career, 2006.

[RunningWolf]

The French are the French, not the US.

Salute to you and your service Jacques Chirac President of France

[PittsburghAfterDark]

Here's to the end of stink that has been French politics since Mitterand.

This country is going to go so far right, by French standards, that it's going to make the EU dizzy.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Goodbye, good riddance, and don't let the door hit you in the bum on the way out!

[RunningWolf]

Whether they are left or right, they are still the French.

And the French as all nations, have their own history and unique circumstances to deal with, and I for one respect that. The French were our 1st/major ally IIRC.

Regards

[Rane _H]

I recall an article claiming Mr. Chirac could take a position in the French Senate(or something like that) after his term and that would make him immune to any action by the law for any things he may have done while in office. Is there any truth to that?

[Atlantic Bridge]

Ehh...

...I know it is unpolite to say it in FR, but I just LOVE this sentence about the Brits:

"Mad cow disease is the only thing that they've contributed to European agriculture (...) You can't trust a people who have such bad food."

Here Chriac for sure has a point as we concern cuisine. I already had my share of British food (although the mad cows missed me so far). :)

[Draco]

Rane: Currently another article here on the forum about that. Apparently he is implicated in many scandals, and his aides have been convicted, but he enjoyed immunity. He is positioning his underlings as judges and is seeking a UN post too. My posting skills (or lack of) prevent me from linking to the FR posting, but it is current.

[Atlantic Bridge]

Is there any truth to that?

That might be. Nevertheless I think that he has immunity anyway. If you Americans really want to jail him for his Iraq policy your own politicians then could face simular persecution (for their Iraq policy) in Europe too. Such emotional and idiotic BS leads to nothing and is only suitable with the "leaders" of meaningless nations or with insignificant dogsbodies nowadays.

[Atlantic Bridge]

Here you might find a answer to your question:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1799949/posts

[garylmoore]

He won't be missed.

[CharlesThe Hammer]

No Great loss here. Mr. Chirac led a disingenuous quest to re-establish a Franco-German center to European affairs. He leveraged this attempt through the UN and EU roadblocks to Anglo-American initiatives. He presided over the widespread incineration of French cities by roaming bands of disenfranchised, militant Muslim immigrants. He fostered a continuation of foolhardy socialistic fiscal policies that hogtie improvements in French unemployment rates and economic growth. He sanctioned the Oil-for-Food debacle and turned his back on the U.S. in the war on terror. The French are about to veer hard right in reaction to the cultural challenges presented by the realities of Muslim demography. This guy was no friend of America. He hurt France.

[Gum Shoe]

"The French were our 1st/major ally IIRC."

During the US build up in Kuwait, prior to the invasion of Iraq, there were several French military units there as part of the UN Peace Keeping deal following the first Gulf War. As we know, the French government elected to pull these troops out and not participate in the invasion.
The French troops were very disappointed with that decision. The Foreign Legion Officers were livid. I'm hoping the French Government will, once again, be our allies. The French contributions to western culture and civilization cannot be ignored and must continue. It's time for the French Government to join the party.

[Rane _H]

I think you mis-understand me. I was referring to the charges he faces from his own country as given in the article you linked. I don't care what happens to him as long as he doesn't cause trouble. I don't believe speaking out against policies of other nations is a punishable offense. :)

[x]

It looks like he outlived his era. Chirac was the last of the "old-style" big government conservatives, and it looks as though he didn't do much to adapt to a changing world. What comes après lui is bound to be different.

For the record, some of the greatest developments of the 18th century "agricultural revolution" occurred in Britain. Britain's great agricultural success enabled it to industrialize and eventually its population outgrew its agricultural capacity.