Jacques Chirac, the President of France
Jacques René Chirac (born November 29, 1932 in Paris) has served as the President of France since he was first elected in 1995. He won a re-election in 2002. His current term expires on May 17, 2007. As President he is an ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra and Grand Master of the French Légion d’honneur. After completing studies at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris and the École Nationale d’Administration, Jacques Chirac began his career as a high-level civil servant, and soon entered politics. He has since occupied various senior positions, such as Minister of Agriculture, Prime Minister, Mayor of Paris, and finally President of France.
He has stood for lower tax rates, the removal of price controls, strong punishment for crime and terrorism; and business privatization. He has also argued for more socially responsible economic policies, and was elected in 1995 after campaigning on a platform of healing the “social rift” (fracture sociale). His economic policies have at various times included both laissez-faire and dirigiste (state directed) ideas. On European Union issues, he has ranged from adopting eurosceptic stances on some issues to rather more pro-EU positions.
He is currently the most senior member of G8, making him the longest serving leader of a G8 nation since the resignation of Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien in 2003.