Ex-French prez Jacques Chirac, who supported India after nuke tests, dies

Chirac had been president of France for two terms from 1995 to 2007

Chirac Vajpayee Then French president Jacques Chirac receiving Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on a visit to France in 1998 | Embassy of France in India

Former president of France Jacques Chirac died on Thursday at the age of 86, his family announced.  "President Jacques Chirac died this morning surrounded by his family, peacefully," his son-in-law Frederic Salat-Baroux told mediapersons.

Chirac had been president of France for two terms from 1995 to 2007. Chirac is notable in recent Indian history as the only western leader who supported New Delhi after the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government conducted nuclear tests in 1998.

Chirac was born in 1932 and grew up to serve in the war against Algerian separatists that led to the North African country's independence. Chirac idolised French statesman Charles De Gaulle and was inspired by him to enter politics. Chirac served as prime minister of France under president Valery Giscard d'Estaing from 1974 for two years and served for 18 years as mayor of Paris.

Chirac was the chief guest of the Republic Day celebrations in 1998. As French president, Chirac did not join sanctions imposed by then US president Bill Clinton after the 1998 nuclear tests even as countries like Germany and Japan severely criticised India. Chirac was also a champion of pan-European unity, taking France to adopt the Euro. During his tenure as French president, Chirac reduced the term of president from seven to five years.

Chirac opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, leading to a bitter falling-out with the administration of George W. Bush. Chirac was convicted of corruption in 2011 for acts committed during his term as mayor of Paris and was given a suspended two-year sentence.