After 40 Years in French Politics, Chirac to Retire
from the NY Times
By ELAINE SCIOLINO
Published: March 12, 2007
PARIS, March 11 — After more than four decades as a politician and a dozen years as president, Jacques Chirac announced his retirement from politics on Sunday, but he did not endorse Nicolas Sarkozy, the presidential candidate and leader of the party Mr. Chirac founded.
In a brief and deeply personal address to the nation carried on television and radio, Mr. Chirac said he would not seek a third term in next month’s election.
“At the end of the mandate you have conferred on me, the moment will have come for me to serve you in another way,” Mr. Chirac said. “I will not ask for your votes for a new mandate.”
Mr. Chirac’s message was one of farewell, not of politics. He looked better than he had for some time. He said of France, “I love it passionately.” He told the French people, “Not for one instant have you ceased to inhabit my heart and my mind.”
He listed what he considered to be the achievements of his tenure, saying, “I am proud of the work that we have accomplished together.” The only regret he expressed was a desire to “have swept away more conservatism and selfishness in order to respond more quickly to some of your difficulties.”
He ended his speech, as he always does, with the words, “Long live the republic! Long live France!” for full story go to http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/12/world/europe/12france.html?n=Top%2fNews%2fWorld%2fCountries%20and%20Territories%2fFrance
By ELAINE SCIOLINO
Published: March 12, 2007
PARIS, March 11 — After more than four decades as a politician and a dozen years as president, Jacques Chirac announced his retirement from politics on Sunday, but he did not endorse Nicolas Sarkozy, the presidential candidate and leader of the party Mr. Chirac founded.
In a brief and deeply personal address to the nation carried on television and radio, Mr. Chirac said he would not seek a third term in next month’s election.
“At the end of the mandate you have conferred on me, the moment will have come for me to serve you in another way,” Mr. Chirac said. “I will not ask for your votes for a new mandate.”
Mr. Chirac’s message was one of farewell, not of politics. He looked better than he had for some time. He said of France, “I love it passionately.” He told the French people, “Not for one instant have you ceased to inhabit my heart and my mind.”
He listed what he considered to be the achievements of his tenure, saying, “I am proud of the work that we have accomplished together.” The only regret he expressed was a desire to “have swept away more conservatism and selfishness in order to respond more quickly to some of your difficulties.”
He ended his speech, as he always does, with the words, “Long live the republic! Long live France!” for full story go to http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/12/world/europe/12france.html?n=Top%2fNews%2fWorld%2fCountries%20and%20Territories%2fFrance
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