Jacques Chirac Biography and Timeline

National Assembly

Appointed Correze Dept

Minister of Interior

Appointed Minister of the Interior

President of France

Nominated Prime Minister of France by Giscard dEstaing

Role range: 1974-1976

Prime Minister of France

Appointed Prime Minister of France, 1st term

Role range: 1974-1976

Resignation of Jacques Chirac

Cites Giscards unwillingness to give him authority

Role range: 1974-1976

RPR

Founds the RPR party

Rally

Founds the conservative Rally for the Republic movement

Mayor

Appointed Mayor of Paris

Role range: 1977-1995

Election

Comes 3rd in the 1st round of the Presidential elections

Mayor

Splits the centre-right vote, Chirac & Giscard were defeated by Socialist Mitterrand

Role range: 1977-1995

Government

Leads a Conservative coalition Government

Role range: 1986-1988

Prime Minister of France

Appointed Prime Minister of France, 2nd term

Role range: 1986-1988

Break in Diplomatic Relations

Iran and France breaks diplomatic relations

Role range: 1986-1988

Election

Runs against Mitterrand for a 2nd time, defeated in runoff elections. Polls 46% on the vote during the 2nd round

Cannes European Council

Chirac hosted European leaders at Cannes as they addressed enlargement, Mediterranean policy and preparations for monetary union.

Role range: 1995-2007

Nuclear Power

Resumes nuclear tests at Mururoa Atoll in French Polynesia. France conducts nuclear tests beneath atolls southeast of Tahiti in French Polynesia, breaking a 1992 test moratorium despite worldwide protests from environmentalists

Role range: 1995-

Dayton Accords

The full and formal agreement is signed by French President Jacques Chirac, US President Bill Clinton, UK Prime Minister John Major, German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin

Role range: 1991-1995

Euro Name Agreement

Chirac joined European leaders in adopting the name euro for the future single currency.

Role range: 1995-2007

Diplomatic Plan at Baden-Baden

Chirac and Helmut Kohl reaffirmed Franco-German commitment to the planned single European currency.

Role range: 1995-2007

Meeting with To confirm their committment to a single

Kohl & Chirac meet to confirm their committment to a single currency in the EU

Role range: 1995-

Reform of Royal Succession

Kohl & Chirac meet to confirm their committment to a single currency in the EU

Role range: 1995-

Election

Elected President of France, "to reduce the social rift"

Role range: 1995-

Meeting with To confirm their committment to a single

Kohl & Chirac meet to confirm their committment to a single currency in the EU

Role range: 1995-

Reform of Royal Succession

Kohl & Chirac meet to confirm their committment to a single currency in the EU

Role range: 1995-

France Conducts Final Nuclear Test

France conducts its final nuclear test before ending nuclear explosive testing.

Role range: 1995-2007

Nuclear Power

France carries out a nuclear test equivalent to approximately 120,000 tonnes of conventional explosives, six times the force of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima

Role range: 1995-

Treaty of Test Ban

Paris agrees to a 10-year compensation package for French Polynesia to rectify some of the damage caused by the programme of nuclear testing. Chirac announces an end to nuclear tests, accedes to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

Role range: 1995-

Nuclear Power

Chirac announces an end to nuclear tests, accedes to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

Role range: 1995-

Turin Intergovernmental Conference

Chirac participated in launching negotiations that produced the Amsterdam Treaty.

Role range: 1995-2007

Amsterdam Treaty Agreement

Chirac joined European leaders in reaching political agreement on the Amsterdam Treaty.

Role range: 1995-2007

Luxembourg Enlargement Process

Chirac supported opening the enlargement process with Central and Eastern European applicant states.

Role range: 1995-2007

Euro Launch

France adopted the euro for accounting and electronic transactions when the single currency was launched.

Role range: 1995-2007

Lisbon Strategy

Chirac backed the European strategy for employment, economic reform and a more competitive knowledge-based economy.

Role range: 1995-2007

Biarritz Charter Agreement

Chirac hosted European leaders as they endorsed the draft Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Role range: 1995-2007

Nice European Council

Chirac chaired the Nice European Council, which reached agreement on institutional reforms for future enlargement.

Role range: 1995-2007

Treaty of Nice Signature

Chirac joined European leaders in signing the Treaty of Nice, designed to prepare the institutions for enlargement.

Role range: 1995-2007

Euro Cash Changeover

Euro banknotes and coins entered circulation in France and eleven other participating countries.

Role range: 1995-2007

Election

"We must reject extremism in the name of the honor of France in the name of the unity". Parties outside the National Front call for opposing Le Pen in favour of Chirac

Role range: 1995-

Plot

Chirac survives an assassination by Maxime Brunerie on Bastille Day

Role range: 1995-

Treaty of Accession

Chirac backs France's participation in the treaty opening the final route to the 2004 enlargement.

Role range: 2003-2004 – 1995-2007