French right-wing presidential candidate of the
Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) Nicolas Sarkozy is applauded by the
crowd as he arrives to deliver a speech, at the "salle Gaveau" in Paris.
Sarkozy scored an emphatic victory in the French presidential election
Sunday, trouncing Socialist rival Segolene Royal to win a clear mandate
for tough economic and social reforms. (Xinhua Photo/Song
Lidong) Photo Gallery
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PARIS, May 9 (Xinhua) -- French President Jacques
Chirac declared during his last cabinet meeting on Wednesday that he has"total
confidence" in Nicolas Sarkozy to "propel France to new heights of success."
Chirac said "I have total confidence in the incoming
President Nicolas Sarkozy to propel France to new heights of success in
cohesion, unity and respect," according to the government spokesman
Jean-Francois Cope.
"I wish him well in his new job," said the
74-year-old leader when chairing his last cabinet meeting after 14 years in
power.
Chirac told the ministers "he was grateful for the work
they have accomplished," Cope said.
Citing unemployment figures "the lowest during the
last 25 years," insecurity decline and the social model "with retirement
reforms, medical-insurance and creation of a new department for aged and
dependent persons," Chirac told the ministers he was "proud of their action in
the service of France."
Addressing his Prime Minister, Chirac said, "thanks
to you, to your commitment and to your talent, dear Dominique de Villepin,
France is respected in Europe and in the whole world."
Later, Chirac hosted a farewell lunch for the French
government at the Elysee presidential palace.
PARIS, May 8 (Xinhua) -- A total of 365 vehicles were
burnt in metropolitan France in the night of Monday to Tuesday, marking the
second consecutive day of violence since the presidential run-off on Sunday,
according to official figures issued by police on Tuesday.
The head office of the national police (DGPN) shows
in its figures issued late Tuesday that 160 arrests, mostly among extreme left
supporters, were made and a policeman injured. The figures are lower compared to
those recorded in the night of Sunday to Monday when 730 vehicles were torched
and 595 people arrested. Full story
PARIS, May 7 (Xinhua) -- A total of 730 vehicles were
burnt on the night of Sunday to Monday following the French presidential
run-off, according to the latest announcement made by the head office of
national police (DGPN) on Monday.
According to DGPN, 592 persons had been questioned
for the involvement in the incidents.
Besides, 78 police officers and gendarmes were
injured over the night. Full story
PARIS, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Right-winger Nicolas Sarkozy has
won the French presidential race by winning 53.7 percent of the vote in Sunday's
run-off with Socialist Segolene Royal, preliminary results show.
He will succeed 74-year-old Jacques Chirac, who has
ruled for 12 years. Full story
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