Jacques Chirac was all smiles last week as he addressed a nationwide television audience from the reception chamber of Paris' grandiose, 19th century city hall. As mayor of Paris and the outspoken leader of the conservative Rally for the Republic party, Chirac only hours before had been named Premier by Socialist President Francois Mitterrand. For the first time in the 28-year history of the Fifth Republic, the nation's President was forced to preside over a government formed by a political rival and ideological foe. "The French must understand," Chirac declared, "that the moment has come to put an end to divisions...
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