FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC COUNTS ON ARMENIANS' SUPPORT AT COMING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
The inauguration ceremony of French President Jacques Chirac, elected head of the state for the second term, was held in Paris yesterday. In his inauguration speech Chirac called upon national unity and specially noted the importance of the people's movement started under the threat of Le Pen ultra-right politician coming to power. Chirac pledged that the interim government formed by him would reduce taxes and attain strengthening the rule of law in the country. This way the President tries to win the constituency support at the parliamentary elections to be held in June. Chirac would be able to form a new cabinet himself only if the Gaullist party headed by him won the elections. The success of Gaullists will mean that the Minister of Social Liberties Patrick Devechian stays in the cabinet. This condition lets Jacques Chirac count on the votes of over half a million Armenians residing in France.