A reflection on the passing of Jacques Chirac, a giant figure in French (and international) politics.

          Jacques Chirac is the latest french iconic figure to leave us, in the last couple of years, after the singers Johnny Hallyday and Charles Aznavour and his passing has been acknowledged in typically sombre yet colourful and respectful ceremony. Typical of France, I mean. France is, lest we forget, a catholic country and reveres its icons with a theatricality that is perhaps a little much for us repressed Brits. But I like it. Maybe that’s why I like France? I like theatricality, sentimentality and emotion. A politician is, of course, more divisive than a singer of songs, but the reaction to his passing, among the people and politicians - both national and international - shows the place Chirac held in the hearts of the French nation, the Francophone countries and other countries across the globe. Not always popular (which politician is?), his forty-plus years in politics, as creator of a political party, the RPR, as Mayor of Paris, as Prime Minister under President François Mitterand and twelve years as President himself, is nevertheless a remarkable CV. With time he has almost certainly become more popular and how often does that happen to a politician? The day of mourning in France today following his death is surely proof of that. Maybe time has been kind to him, but that’s still rare.

Charismatic, witty, cultured and intelligent. A bull in political terms, yet also down to earth and without graces, he never seemed happier than when shaking peoples’ hands and embracing them, whatever the context or country, drinking a beer in a brasserie or eating a farmer's produce. In the company of the farmer, of course. This unpretentious and warm demeanour is possibly the key to his popularity. He was not without flaws, both political and human. He had his moments of controversy, but his opposition to the war in Iraq in 2003 remains one of his greatest moments. I discovered him in 1995, the year he became President and the same year I moved to Paris. He became one of my best French teachers. I wasn’t necessarily interested in what he had to say. I’m naturally suspicious of most politicians, particularly powerful ones, but I also find them fascinating. And his elegant and theatrical French is beautiful to listen to, for an admirer and student of the language as I was and remain. Much mocked (though with affection too, I think) by satirists in France for his laboured, elaborate way of speaking - amongst other things - I say it’s better to be imitated than ignored. His speech after the death of his rival and political enemy Mitterand, the January following his presidential victory (in 1996) was humane, sincere and touching. Politics and politicians, like many other things, in these days of globalized genericism and banality, miss characters like Chirac (and Mitterand, of course), but it is perhaps ultimately his non-political dimensions which are the measure of the man and the key to his popularity and legacy.