Chirac Announces Bid for Re-election

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, February 12, 2002

Chirac Announces Bid for Re-election

French President Jacques Chirac made the long-awaited announcement of his candidacy for the presidential elections set for April 21 and May 5.

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Chirac Announces Bid for Re-election

French President Jacques Chirac made the long-awaited announcement of his candidacy for the presidential elections set for April 21 and May 5.

He made the announcement Monday in the southern city of Avignon, where he attended the opening ceremony of a meeting on the creation of new jobs among various enterprises. It was a surprise visit not on his agenda until last weekend.

"I am a candidate," said Chirac when asked by Mayor of Avignon and his close friend Marie-Josee Roig.

"I will participate in the great debate, and I hope it will be calm and dignified," said the 60-year-old veteran Gaullist.

"I believe in France, I know and love the French. I am sure that by talking together, going beyond ideologies, prejudices, and dogma, we can help France win," he declared.

The incumbent president then listed the return to dynamism, the restoration of authority of the State, restoration of security, reinforcement of solidarity, strengthening of the judicial system as major themes of his campaign.

His speech was applauded by participants of the meeting.

Avignon has been viewed as a stronghold of right-wing activists since March last year when Roig won the municipality from Employment Minister Elisabeth Guigou, a close ally of Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, who has not declared his bid yet though believed to be Chirac's main rival.

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