Jacques Chirac

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Jacques Chirac

Role / Field:

French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007.

Born:

1932-11-29

Died:

2019-09-26

Century / Era:

1932s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Jacques René Chirac (UK: , US: ; French: [ʒak ʁəne ʃiʁak] ; 29 November 1932 – 26 September 2019) was President of France from 1995 to 2007. He was previously Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and 1986 to 1988, as well as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995. After attending the École nationale d'administration, Chirac began his career as a high-level civil servant, entering politics shortly thereafter. Chirac occupied various senior positions, including minister of agriculture and minister of the interior. In 1981 and 1988, he unsuccessfully ran for president as the standard-bearer for the conservative Gaullist party Rally for the Republic (RPR).

Career & Major Achievements

Chirac's internal policies initially included lower tax rates, the removal of price controls, strong punishment for crime and terrorism, and business privatisation. After pursuing these policies in his second term as prime minister, Chirac changed his views. He argued for different economic policies and was elected president in 1995, with 52.6% of the vote in the second round, beating Socialist Lionel Jospin, after campaigning on a platform of healing the "social rift" (fracture sociale). Chirac's economic policies, based on dirigisme, allowing for state-directed investment, stood in opposition to the laissez-faire policies of the United Kingdom under the ministries of Margaret Thatcher and John Major, which Chirac described as "Anglo-Saxon ultraliberalism". Chirac was known for his stand against the American-led invasion of Iraq, his recognition of the collaborationist French government's role in deporting Jews, him ending conscription in 1997, and his reduction of the presidential term from seven years to five through a referendum in 2000.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

At the 2002 presidential election, he won 82.2% of the vote in the second round against the far-right candidate, Jean-Marie Le Pen, and was the last president to be re-elected until 2022. In 2011, a Paris court declared Chirac guilty of diverting public funds and abusing public confidence, giving him a two-year suspended prison sentence. Jacques René Chirac was born on 29 November 1932 in the 5th arrondissement of Paris. He was the son of Abel François Marie Chirac (1898–1968), a successful executive for an aircraft company, and Marie-Louise Valette (1902–1973), a housewife. His grandparents were all teachers from Sainte-Féréole in Corrèze.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1898: 1898 Milestone — He was the son of Abel François Marie Chirac (1898–1968), a successful executive for an aircraft company, and Marie-Louise Valette (1902–1973), a housewife.
2. 1932 (1932-11-29): Birth of Jacques Chirac — French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007.
3. 1974: 1974 Milestone — He was previously Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and 1986 to 1988, as well as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.
4. 1981: 1981 Milestone — In 1981 and 1988, he unsuccessfully ran for president as the standard-bearer for the conservative Gaullist party Rally for the Republic (RPR).
5. 1995: 1995 Milestone — He argued for different economic policies and was elected president in 1995, with 52.
6. 1997: 1997 Milestone — Chirac was known for his stand against the American-led invasion of Iraq, his recognition of the collaborationist French government's role in deporting Jews, him ending conscription in 1997, and his reduction of the presidential term from seven years to five through a referendum in 2000.
7. 2002: 2002 Milestone — At the 2002 presidential election, he won 82.
8. 2011: 2011 Milestone — In 2011, a Paris court declared Chirac guilty of diverting public funds and abusing public confidence, giving him a two-year suspended prison sentence.
9. 2019 (2019-09-26): Passing & Historical Legacy — Jacques Chirac passed away on 2019-09-26, leaving an enduring historical legacy.
10. 2022: 2022 Milestone — 2% of the vote in the second round against the far-right candidate, Jean-Marie Le Pen, and was the last president to be re-elected until 2022.

Notable Quotes by Jacques Chirac

“I am not a man of slogans, I am a man of action.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Jacques Chirac

True or False: “Jacques Chirac was the first French leader to successfully re-elect himself after serving as President.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): He was the last president to be re-elected until 2022; the claim that he was the first is incorrect.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• 1932 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1932
• November 29 (11-29) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on November 29
• 2019 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2019
• September 26 (09-26) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on September 26

Frequently Asked Questions about Jacques Chirac