France's Jospin Hosts Last Meeting

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, April 25, 2002

France's Jospin Hosts Last Meeting

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Beaten in his quest for the presidency, Prime Minister Lionel Jospin bade an emotional farewell to political life Wednesday at the government's final Cabinet meeting before France elects its next leader.

After Sunday's upset victory in the presidential primary by extreme-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, the Socialist prime minister declared he would retire from politics as of the May 5 election. The run-off pits Le Pen against conservative President Jacques Chirac.

Jospin thanked his ministers for "the work achieved over the past five years" and Chirac "for the courteous and simple way" the president had presided over their weekly sessions, Environment Minister Yves Cochet said.

Jospin and Chirac had an openly tense relationship during their five years running the country in a power-sharing arrangement known in France as "cohabitation" when the leaders represent opposing parties. Wednesday's meeting, the last before the election, showed little sign of tension.

"We endeavored to assure the proper functioning of institutions to the service of France," Chirac told the ministers, according to his spokeswoman Catherine Colonna. "And we have accomplished the Republican duty the French people assigned us."

The campaign Chirac and Jospin waged against each other in the run-up to the primary was marked by sharp personal attacks.

Jospin at one point told reporters that the 69-year-old Chirac was "tired," "old" and "used up." Chirac accused Jospin, 64, of failing the country and blamed his government for France's rising crime and climbing unemployment.

Polls leading up to Sunday's first round had consistently predicted Jospin and Chirac would win, although many voters voiced disillusionment claiming the two candidates' platforms appeared identical. Both pledged to stem rising crime, cut taxes and reduce unemployment.

Instead, Chirac took 19.88 percent of votes and Le Pen, leader of the anti-immigrant National Front party, won 16.86 percent.

Jospin, who had 16.18 percent, called the results a "thunderbolt" and announced his retirement on national television, saying: "I plainly assume responsibility for this failure."

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