FRANCE:With an ardent declaration of love for France and its people, President Jacques Chirac last night announced his intention not to seek a third term in office.
"It is with love in my heart and pride in France that I come before you tonight," Mr Chirac began. "Not one minute have I ceased acting to serve this magnificent France," he concluded. "This France that I love as much as I love you, this France . . . which has not stopped surprising the world."
It was widely reported beforehand that Mr Chirac (74) would announce the end of his political career. Half-way through his speech, he said, almost as an anti-climax, "I will not solicit your votes for a new mandate. In a different manner . . . I shall continue to lead the battles that are ours."
The message was pre-recorded one hour before the 8pm broadcast. A few of the gold stars of the European flag were visible behind Mr Chirac, but three-quarters of the screen was filled with the French tricolour. Despite a wooden delivery, Mr Chirac managed to convey emotion.
The French president repeated six times that he was proud of his accomplishments in office.
He delivered five specific messages. The first was that France should "never compromise with extremism, racism, anti-Semitism or rejection of others". His second message was that the French must believe in themselves. "We must not fear the changes in the world," he said. "This new world, we must take it on. We must continue to leave our imprint . . . without ever giving up our French model."
Europe came third. Alluding to the French "No" in the constitutional treaty referendum, which ruined his chances of re-election, Mr Chirac said: "It is vital to continue European construction." France must demand a powerful, political Europe "which guarantees our social model", he added.
"France is not a country like others. She has particular responsibilities," was Mr Chirac's fourth message. These were to "defend tolerance, dialogue and respect among men and cultures."
Finally, Mr Chirac said, the "ecological revolution" was under way. "If we do not reconcile humankind's need for growth and the suffering of a planet that has run out of breath, we are headed for catastrophe."
He did not endorse any presidential candidate, though the right-wing candidate Nicolas Sarkozy has sought his support.
Reaction to Mr Chirac's speech was mixed. The socialist presidential candidate Ségolène Royal said: "A new page is going to be written. The French are going to write it themselves." The "social fracture" which Mr Chirac promised to heal had only deepened.
The centrist candidate François Bayrou tied with Ms Royal for second place in opinion polls for the first time yesterday.
Mr Bayrou said he "took his hat off" to Mr Chirac for reminding the French of their basic values.
The speech was "appropriate for a head of state who is finishing his mandate", Mr Bayrou said. Jean-Marie Le Pen, the leader of the extreme right-wing National Front who lost to Mr Chirac in 2002, was his most vicious critic.
"Jacques Chirac will have been the worst president in the history of France," Mr Le Pen said.
He claimed Mr Chirac wasted his 82 per cent score against him "with a €2.5 billion debt, five million unemployed, four million poor, 14 million working poor, the French army nearly dismantled, the schools adrift.
"My God, may God forgive him."