PARIS President Jacques Chirac has said he considers it his duty to protect progress towards European integration, Lara Marlowe writes.
His words implied concern about the European policies of the new Socialist Prime Minister, Mr Lionel Jospin, and hinted that the two men may soon clash over Mr Jospin's determination to reinterpret the Maastricht convergence criteria.
Mr Chirac made the speech in Lille at the weekend, in his first public appearance since his centre right coalition was driven out of government in early elections on June 1st.
As if trying to carve out a role for himself in a suddenly unrecognisable political landscape, Mr Chirac repeated the phrase, "Today my duty is to ..." four times.
Most notably, his duty was to "protect the European achievements reached after 40 years of patience and efforts and to continue to move forward, despite the obstacles, towards a united, strong and just Europe".
At the same time, the French president pleaded for a smooth "cohabitation" with Mr Jospin. He reminded his audience, France's main nonprofit health insurance group, that he had already experienced "cohabitation" under President Mitterrand.
"At that time, I came to appreciate the fundamental role of the president of the republic as guardian of our institutions," Mr Chirac said.
Asked to comment on Mr Chirac's speech, Mr Jospin acknowledged the president's role as guardian of French institutions, but declined to address specific points of the statement.