Word: chirac
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...unprecedented powers the French President had consolidated in his hands - Sarkozy had just passed constitutional reforms to expand the President's role - hadn't created a veritable "elected monarchy" within the republic's democratic framework. "Monarchy means hereditary. Do you think I am the illegitimate son of Jacques Chirac, who installed me to the throne?" Sarkozy mockingly retorted, referring to his bitter relationship with his predecessor. "A man as cultivated as you saying something so stupid. Moi, a product of monarchy...
...Presidents of two African countries, Thomas Boni Yayi of Benin and Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso, will be among a cluster of international dignitaries and industry experts who will make an international call for action against counterfeit drugs in Cotonou, Benin. The initiative is the brainchild of Jacques Chirac, the former French President, who wants to make the Cotonou declaration the first step of a worldwide campaign aimed at raising awareness of the problem and persuading governments to impose tougher penalties and improve routine testing of medications. The larger goal is to establish an international convention on counterfeit drugs...
...Chirac initiative is treading carefully at the start. Organizers make clear that the Cotonou declaration isn't aimed at generics. And they avoid using the word counterfeit since this term is often associated with intellectual-property issues and could lead some to believe that the initiative is aimed at protecting pharmaceutical companies' profits, not safeguarding public health. Franquet says it's important for public opinion to be mobilized against fake medicines, and he believes that given the sometimes tragic consequences, this should be easy to accomplish. "This is one of the rare areas where the public is on our side...
...Giscard wants to divert attention from Chirac's book and doesn't care how low he has to stoop or ridiculous he looks doing it," says commentator and humor writer Bruno Gaccio. "Giscard occupies the media with a laughable novel as Chirac rolls out the story of his life in politics...
...However, Gaccio suggests French machismo may also be at work. "People always speak of [fellow former French President François] Mitterrand and Chirac as great ladies' men, and [current French President Nicolas] Sarkozy went out and married a top model, but who refers to Giscard as a seducer?" Gaccio asks. "No one - so he's decided to do so himself, with a story whose leading lady is no longer around to debunk...