Top 10 interesting facts about Jacques Chirac

Top 10 interesting facts about Jacques Chirac

France has seen many different forms of government over the years ever since the French Revolution in 1789. There were kings, queens, emperors, until finally, 80 years later, a stable democratic republic was formed.

Since, France has had 25 presidents. Introducing president number 22, Jacques Chirac! Mr. Chirac was born in 1932 in Paris, and served as president from 1995 until 2007. He was a studious child, and attended 2 of the most prestigious high schools in Paris, before going on to study at Sciences Po (an esteemed French university), and briefly at Harvard.

Chirac had a long political career, which I’m going to be telling you all about today! Keep reading for my top 10 interesting facts about Jacques Chirac. 

1. Before he was president, Jacques Chirac served as Prime Minister and the Mayor of Paris

Jacques Chirac as seen as the Prime Minister in the 1980s by Plantagenets – WikiCommons

Jacques Chirac was inspired to go into politics by Charles de Gaulle. In the 1950s, he decided to become a civil servant, and became involved in the Communist Party in France.

After graduating from Sciences Po in 1953, he began studying at the École nationale d’administration, which is a school that trains the top civil servants in the country. Then, in 1962, Chirac was elected to head the personal staff of Prime Minister Georges Pompidou. Chirac became close with Pompidou in these years, but I’ll be talking more about that later.

A few years later, in 1971, Chirac became the Minister of Agriculture. He was well loved in this position, and was known as being a friend to French farmers. In 1974 he was elected as President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing’s Prime Minister. He remained in this role for 2 years.

Then, in 1977, Chirac was elected Mayor of Paris, and served in this position for 18 years until he was elected president! As mayor, he installed programs to help children, the elderly, single mothers and people with disabilities. Overall, he was well loved.

2. Georges Pompidou was Jacques Chirac’s mentor

Jacques Chirac (fourth from the right) with other government workers in 1975 from sudouest.fr – WikiCommons

When Chirac first got his start as a civil servant, he was elected to head the personal staff of Prime Minister Georges Pompidou in 1962. He quickly rose as the “darling” of Pompidou, and Pompidou thought of Chirac as his protégé.

At this time, Chirac earned the nickname, “Le Bulldozer,” because Pompidou knew he could rely on him to get things done. The nickname also served as a warning for anyone who tried to get in his way, as he had an abrasive personality.

This nickname stuck! People still referred to Chirac as Le Bulldozer until the late 1980s.

3. Jacques Chirac was president for 12 years

Jacques Chirac with former President of the United States Bill Clinton by David Scull – WikiCommons

I’m American, and our presidents are only allowed to serve 2 four year terms, meaning the longest anyone can be president is 8 years. So, you can imagine that I was shocked to learn that Chirac was in office for 12!

Chirac served his first term from 1995-2002. Overall, he was liked, gave people jobs, and made strides in French history, like admitting the country’s involvement with the Nazis during World War II. I’ll tell you more about that coming up.

Chirac’s second term was from 2002-2007. He ran against the leader of the French Nationalist party at the time, Jean-Marie Le Pen, and Chirac won 86% of votes! This time around, Chirac narrowly escaped an assassination attempt, was vocal about his opposition to the Iraq War and supported nuclear research in France. He also had very low poll ratings, illuminating the political unrest in France at the time. 

After this term, Chirac publicly announced that he wouldn’t be running for a third time, and would be retiring from politics all together.

4. Jacques Chirac had a tumultuous relationship with Nicolas Sarkozy

Nicolas Sarkozy as seen in New York in 2007 by Ricardo Stuckert – WikiCommons

Chirac first met Nicolas Sarkozy in 1975, when Sarkozy was a law student. Chirac saw Sarkozy give a memorable speech at a conference in Paris, and Chirac was immediately impressed by the young student.

After the conference, Chirac approached Sarkozy and told him that he thought he was “meant for politics,” and took him on as his mentee.

Everything changed for the pair in 1993, when Sarkozy choose to support Chirac’s adversary in the 1995 presidential election. This time it was Chirac’s wife’s turn to make a comment, “And to think, he has seen us in our night-clothes!”

Chirac and Sarkozy became friends again in 2002 during Chirac’s second term, and he served as Interior Minister and the Minister of Finance, 2 very important positions within the French government.

But, it seems that Sarkozy fell out of favor in Chirac’s eyes as in his memoir that he published in 2011, he called him, “irritable, rash, impetuous, disloyal, ungrateful, and un-French.” This is most likely due to the fact that when Sarkozy was running for president in 2007, he seemed to agree with some of the ideals that Chirac’s former adversary Le Pen made. Don’t mess with Chirac!

5. There was once an assassination attempt on Jacques Chirac

Jacques Chirac in 2007 by Eric Pouhier – WikiCommons

On Bastille Day in 2002, there was an assassination attempt on Chirac. In celebration, Chirac was in an open-top car in the presidential motorcade. A single gunman with a rifle hidden in a guitar case began firing at the president.

He was luckily overpowered by the crowds, and was swiftly arrested. It was soon revealed that his name was Maxime Brunerie. He was associated with a neo-Nazi political party called Unité Radicale.

After Brunerie was arrested and put under psychiatric observation, the police party was dismantled.

6. There is a museum in Paris named after Jacques Chirac

The Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac in Paris by Andreas Praefcke – WikiCommons

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Chirac always showed an interest in primitive art, and so it makes sense that the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac in Paris bares his name!

The museum was originally called the Musée du quai Branly, and is located on (you guessed it) the quai Branly in the 7th arrondissement in Paris. Chirac did head the project to create the museum, which is pretty standard for French presidents. For example, Georges Pompidou helped to launch the Centre Pompidou.

This new museum would showcase art from the Americas, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It was also a way for France to recognize the negative effects French colonization had on these places.

In 2016, “Jacques Chirac” was added to the museum’s name.

Practical Information for visiting the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac:

Entry fee: 7-10 euros

Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:30am-7pm. Closed Mondays

Address: 37 Quai Branly, 75007 Paris

Metro station: Alma-Marceau / Iéna / École Militaire / Bir Hakeim

WEBSITE

7. Jacques Chirac recognized France’s involvement with the Nazis

Jacques Chirac in 2005 by Remy Steinegger – WikiCommons

Before 1995, the French government denied any connection to the Vichy government that was put in place in southern France during World War II. According to the French government, the Vichy regime was put in place after the Nazis had overthrown the French Republic, and had nothing to do with the French Republic before, or after the war. Meaning, France did not have to apologize for the thousands of Jews that were deported during this time.

This all changed in 1995, when Chirac made a memorable speech on the grounds of the Velodrome d’Hiver, where in 1942, 13,000 Jews were rounded up and held before eventually being deported to various concentration camps.

In his speech, Chirac stated that,

“France, on that day, committed the irreparable…4,500 policemen and gendarmes, French, under the authority of their leaders [who] obeyed the demands of the Nazis…the criminal folly of the occupiers was seconded by the French, by the French State.”

Chirac stepped up to the plate and issued an apology that was more than 50 years overdue.

8. At one point, Jacques Chirac was one of the least popular presidents in French history

Presidents George W. Bush and Jacques Chirac in 2002 – WikiCommons

Chirac was well-loved during his first term, but things changed the second time around. At one point, his ratings were so low in the polls that he was considered to be one of the least popular presidents in the history of France!

Why? One reason is because French people at the time felt that politicians were completely out of touch with their citizens. Unemployment was high, which induced anxiety all around the country. The French also felt that many politicians were more concerned with advancing their careers, rather than the needs of the public.

These low ratings could have also pushed Chirac to retire after his second term.

9. Jacques Chirac was found guilty for corruption in 2011

Jacques Chirac in 2006 by Remi Jouan – WikiCommons

4 years after Chirac’s retirement, he was brought to court on charges of corruption. But, these charges went all the way back to his years as Mayor of Paris! Chirac had already been approached with these charges back in 1999, but controversially he was granted immunity while he was still president.

This immunity ended when he left office in 2007, and Chirac was swiftly placed under investigation. He is actually the first and only former French president to ever have been put under official investigation for a crime. In 2009, Chirac was sentenced to go on trial for embezzlement charges dating back to when he was mayor.

In 2011, Chirac was convicted. He was found guilty “of diverting public funds, abuse of trust and illegal conflict of interest.” Although he was found guilty, he was not required to go to jail due to the fact that he was a former head of state, was getting older and his health was declining.

10. Jacques Chirac is buried in the Montparnasse Cemetery

Jacque Chirac’s tomb in the Montparnasse Cemetery in Paris by Wikibphil – WikiCommons

In his old age, Chirac experienced many health problems. He was quite frail as he got older, and he also experienced a lot of memory loss. In 2009, he had an operation to insert a pacemaker.

Between 2014-2016, he was hospitalized several times for different reasons. In 2019, Chirac died peacefully in his home in Paris, surrounded by his family and close friends. His funeral was at the Saint-Sulpice Church in the 6th arrondissement, and was attended by many politicians and members of the French government. The day of the funeral, September 30, 2019, was declared an official day of mourning in France.

Jacques Chirac is buried in the Montparnasse Cemetery in Paris.

Practical Information for visiting the Montparnasse Cemetery:

Entry Fee: Free entry

Opening hours: Monday-Friday 8am-6pm, Saturday 8:30am-6pm, Sunday 9am-6pm

Address: 3 Boulevard Edgar Quinet, 75014 Paris

Metro Station: Raspail / Edgar Quinet / Gaîté

Conclusion

Now you know all about the 22nd president of France, Jacques Chirac! He lived a full and interesting life, and I’m so happy I was able to share some facts about him with you all! Despite the corruption charges, Chirac continues to be loved today.

If you want to learn more about former French presidents and other famous personalities, why not join one of our walking tours in Paris? All of our guides are Paris locals, and they really know their stuff. There’s a bunch of options to choose from, click here to find out more and to make your booking!