a banker he was born in paris in 1932 his political mentor george pompidou wanted chirac to be his private secretary in the palace he became prime minister in 1996 under the scar to stone but soon he and she rocket political differences. in 1905 he won the presidential election against opposing candidate socialist. he rose from secretary to top ranks in the elite he had achieved his life's goal right at the very start of his term she rocked shocked the world by authorizing underground nuclear tests in the pacific ocean he set a clear course opposing the us president george bush during the iraq war and the people of france agreed with him but france's rejection of the e.u. constitution which he had championed was his biggest failure in office he had little love for his party colleague nicolas sarkozy yet he could not stop him from becoming his successor after she rocks term in office was over old scandals return