Search Icon

Chirac finally endorses his old rival Sarkozy

Nicolas Sarkozy: Chirac finally endorses his old rival Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy was spurned by Jacques Chirac after backing a party rival, Edouard Balladur, in 1995

Jacques Chirac has officially endorsed Nicolas Sarkozy to succeed him as president of France.

Nicolas Sarkozy: Chirac finally endorses his old rival Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy was spurned by Jacques Chirac after backing a party rival, Edouard Balladur, in 1995

Mr Chirac and Mr Sarkozy both belong to the ruling centre-right UMP party but fell out more than a decade ago, and the president had until now declined to support his election campaign.

But in a televised address today Mr Chirac said Mr Sarkozy should have the backing of the entire UMP party, "so it is totally natural that I give him my vote and my support".

The president also said that Mr Sarkozy would leave his post as interior minister on March 26, ahead of the first round of the election on April 22.

Mr Chirac, 74, will step down after 12 years in office following the second round of the election in May.

Mr Sarkozy had indicated he was expecting the president's support, and failure to secure it could have damaged his credentials as the right's candidate.

He is currently leading the Socialist candidate Ségolène Royal in the polls, but centrist contender François Bayrou is gaining ground on them both.

More to follow