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Sarkozy borrows from Chirac in attack on Cameron

"You have lost a good opportunity to shut up" was an old Chirac line.

By George Eaton Published 24 October 2011 11:57

If Nicolas Sarkozy's attack on David Cameron sounded familiar ("You have lost a good opportunity to shut up.") that's because it was. Jacques Chirac, Sarkozy's predecessor as French president, used exactly the same form of words in 2003 to berate eastern Europen countries over their support for the Iraq war.

After 13 countries including Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic signed a letter supporting the US position, Chirac thundered:

They missed a great opportunity to shut up.

It's a memorable line, so one can't blame Sarko for stealing it. But it again undermines the idea that he represents a "rupture" with the past.

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Tags: France

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7 comments

Thu, 2012-05-10 17:13 — WallaceNeville

The two issues of the War and the Eurozone are completely different. The East Europeans voted for the War because of their new found 'freedom' and a love for capitalism. Most of that has now thankfully warn off, as seen by failing liberal regimes giving way to more social democratic regimes in E Europe. http://www.grantsforcollege101.com/

Sun, 2011-10-30 15:59 — Ricardo (not verified)

With regards Stu's post ... the UK might be part of the EU but it is not part of the Euro and that is what it was about.

Mon, 2011-10-24 12:36 — swatantra nandanwar

Big difference between Chirac and Sarko. One was a crook and the other 5ft tall. The two issues of the War and the Eurozone are completely different. The East Europeans voted for the War because of their new found 'freedom' and a love for capitalism. Most of that has now thankfully warn off, as seen by failing liberal regimes giving way to more social democratic regimes in E Europe.
But Sarkois right. Dave should stop posturing on the Eurozone because Britain isn't part of it, and let the true Europeans deal with the problems of the Greeks and Italians having as though money grew on trees.

Mon, 2011-10-24 13:17 — Tommy le Renard (not verified)

Interesting that this story isn't even a blip in the French Press.

In times of trouble, it is always a safe bet to have a go at the old enemy.

In 2003 Blair used Chirac's veto threat as an excuse to break the law over Iraq. His final argument was essentially that "The French are against it, so we might as well do it."

Mon, 2011-10-24 17:07 — Stu (not verified)

The Eurozone's existence still affects us so I don't know what Sarkozy is on?!

If they don't consider us as part of the EU then may be it's right for us to get out of it or Cameron can take a tougher stance and say 'look the EU is a hinderence... give us back our powers'... not sure if he has the balls to...

Fri, 2011-10-28 12:45 — Jean (not verified)

I'd like to confirm what JC Malet said, it is very idiomatic in French. It is absolutely NOT a reference to Jacques Chirac.
Five days earlier the former French rugby coach Marc Lievremont used it in a press conference... http://www.sudouest.fr/2011/10/19/marc-lievremont-avant-nouvelle-zelande... It is basically the same meaning.

Thu, 2011-10-27 04:23 — JC Malet (not verified)

"To miss a good opportunity to shut up" is neither Chirac's nor Sarkozy's. It is a well-known and often used French expression. No wonder 'this story isn't even a blip in the French Press'