Death of Jacques Chirac - Great statesman had his flaws

The death of former French president Jacques Chirac will be greeted with mixed emotions internationally but his stature will endure in France. Even when convicted in 2011 of corruption during his time as mayor of Paris, he retained a deep affection in the hearts of French people.
On the international stage, Chirac will be best remembered for infuriating the United States with his public opposition to the 2003 war in Iraq, declaring: “War is always the worst of solutions, because it brings death and misery.”