Chirac tells French to cheer up

2006-01-04 18:29

Paris - The French need to stop being negative, says President Jacques Chirac on Wednesday, assuming the role of cheerleader-in-chief after a rotten year in 2005.

The French leader said: "We must, I think, do away if possible with this foible of only seeing the negative, of spending our time in a sort of permanent self-flagellation.

"France is a great country and we have full reason to be proud of it. The world is changing around us and we have so many challenges to meet, and for that, we must first have confidence in ourselves."

In 2005, Paris lost its bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games - a referendum debate about a proposed European Union constitution divided the country - three weeks of riots shook depressed suburbs and unemployment dropped slightly - but still hovers at close to 10%.

Intense global competition

France also was grappling with wider questions of how to defend its high level of social protection, lifestyle and time-honoured traditions in an era of intense global competition and rapid change.

Chirac said the suburban riots and the divisive referendum campaign reflected "questions and tensions" preoccupying France.

He said: "In the background, there is the question of globalisation: How do we remain ourselves in a world changing at top speed?"

This was possibly Chirac's last full year in power; many didn't expect him to seek re-election in 2007, after he would have turned 74.

Chirac gave no hint of his personal intentions. But, he said his government must accelerate its programme, notably the fight against unemployment, so extremist politicians can't dominate next year's presidential debate.

In the 2002 polls, Chirac was forced into a second-round run-off against far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, who already had announced his intentions to run again next year.

- AP