Chirac, at Last, Backs Sarkozy in French Presidential Election
from the NY Times
By ELAINE SCIOLINO
Published: March 22, 2007
PARIS, March 21 — Setting aside his personal feelings for the sake of his party, Jacques Chirac on Wednesday endorsed his longtime younger rival, Nicolas Sarkozy, as the person best suited to succeed him as president of France.
The long-awaited endorsement came without fanfare, passion or enthusiasm. The two men did not appear together at Élysée Palace or on a campaign podium.
Instead, Mr. Chirac announced his decision in a short televised statement from the palace after meeting with Mr. Sarkozy. Mr. Chirac portrayed it in terms of loyalty to the governing party, which he founded in 2002 — the Union for a Popular Movement, known by its French acronym, UMP — not as a personal embrace of the candidate.
“Five years ago, I called for the creation of the UMP to allow France to pursue a rigorous policy of modernization in the long term,” he said. “In all its diversity, this political movement chose to support the candidacy of Nicolas Sarkozy in the presidential election, because of his qualities. So it is very natural that I will bring him my vote and my support.”
The president also announced that Mr. Sarkozy would step down as interior minister on Monday to devote himself exclusively to the campaign. In his meeting with Mr. Sarkozy on Wednesday, Mr. Chirac said, he took “the opportunity to salute his work, his commitment, his results at the Interior Ministry.” for the full story, go to http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/22/world/europe/22france.html?n=Top%2fNews%2fWorld%2fCountries%20and%20Territories%2fFrance
By ELAINE SCIOLINO
Published: March 22, 2007
PARIS, March 21 — Setting aside his personal feelings for the sake of his party, Jacques Chirac on Wednesday endorsed his longtime younger rival, Nicolas Sarkozy, as the person best suited to succeed him as president of France.
The long-awaited endorsement came without fanfare, passion or enthusiasm. The two men did not appear together at Élysée Palace or on a campaign podium.
Instead, Mr. Chirac announced his decision in a short televised statement from the palace after meeting with Mr. Sarkozy. Mr. Chirac portrayed it in terms of loyalty to the governing party, which he founded in 2002 — the Union for a Popular Movement, known by its French acronym, UMP — not as a personal embrace of the candidate.
“Five years ago, I called for the creation of the UMP to allow France to pursue a rigorous policy of modernization in the long term,” he said. “In all its diversity, this political movement chose to support the candidacy of Nicolas Sarkozy in the presidential election, because of his qualities. So it is very natural that I will bring him my vote and my support.”
The president also announced that Mr. Sarkozy would step down as interior minister on Monday to devote himself exclusively to the campaign. In his meeting with Mr. Sarkozy on Wednesday, Mr. Chirac said, he took “the opportunity to salute his work, his commitment, his results at the Interior Ministry.” for the full story, go to http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/22/world/europe/22france.html?n=Top%2fNews%2fWorld%2fCountries%20and%20Territories%2fFrance
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