France’s Chirac Bows Out

French Jacques Chirac is now French political history:

Jacques Chirac, admired and scorned during 12 years as France’s president, announced Sunday he will not seek a third term in elections this spring – a widely expected move given his low popularity, his age and a conservative rival who has siphoned off his political base.

In a televised address, Chirac said he would find new ways to serve his country after leaving office: “Serving France, and serving peace, is what I have committed my whole life to.”

Most on the French right Chirac once dominated and in the party founded for his re-election in 2002 have swung behind Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, leaving Chirac with no political base for another run in the April-May two-round presidential vote.

But Chirac, 74, has pulled surprises in the past and he kept France guessing as long as possible about whether he will run again – seemingly to avoid becoming a lame duck too soon.

Chirac leaves a legacy as mixed and ambiguous as the man himself.

The Los Angeles Times notes that Chirac’s departure sets the stage for a suspenseful campaign:

Chirac’s move came after months of refusing to rule out a bid and flirting with fielding his own intraparty challenger to Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, 52, of his ruling center-right movement.

Other candidates include Francois Bayrou, 54, a longshot centrist preaching pragmatism and unity, who has unexpectedly pulled even in polls with Segolene Royal, 53, of the opposition Socialists, and not far behind Sarkozy.

Far-right maverick Jean-Marie Le Pen, 78, retains enough support to influence the outcome five years after he upset the Socialists and then lost the runoff to Chirac. But this week, he still must finish obtaining the 500 signatures from elected officials that are necessary to validate a presidential candidacy in France.

Although the candidates have been campaigning hard, the race for the first-round vote of the presidential election April 22 officially begins Thursday.

Meanwhile, in his speech Chirac urged voters to reject extremism:

Chirac, a conservative like Sarkozy, said Sunday was not the moment to endorse any of the contenders, but he made clear that he hoped voters would reject far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, who finished second in the 2002 presidential election.

“Never compromise with extremism, racism, anti-Semitism or the rejection of others. In our history, extremism has already nearly ruined us,” he said.

Le Pen said Chirac would go down as the worst president in the history of France. “It’s a great joy … I am losing my worst enemy,” he told TF1 television after Chirac’s address.

The BBC has a profile of Chirac HERE.