Paris (AFP)

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe paid tribute Tuesday to the National Assembly to former President Jacques Chirac, "Captain of the long course in our Republic", before a minute of silence in the Chamber.

Whoever "was able to connect political continents that could have drifted (...) knew his home ports: human rights, attention to the most vulnerable," greeted the head of government (formerly LR) , spinning the maritime metaphor in front of two giant photos of Jacques Chirac.

"Some on these benches knew him much better than me," he added, mentioning the patron of deputies LR Christian Jacob, and applauding Jean-Louis Debré, Patrick Ollier and Alain Juppé, present in a tribune alongside Edith Cresson.

"For many he was a leader, a companion, a friend, for others an adversary" but "we can all today greet the passionate commitment of a man for his country", who "wanted a strong France and soothed, "continued Edouard Philippe in front of deputies and ministers standing, saying his" great emotion "and addressing thoughts to the relatives of the former president (1995-2007).

"He was one of the pioneers of ecological awareness" and "this busy man had the intelligence of the long time," he added before concluding with a poem from Saint John Persia.

"The history of France is in mourning," said for its part the President of the Assembly Richard Ferrand (LREM), who hailed the man "in perpetual motion, from Matignon to Corrèze, the mayor of Paris at the Élysée ", such as" the great wind of history ".

Richard Ferrand narrated his first election as deputy of Corrèze in 1967, in a constituency that "seemed impregnable" and facing the brother of François Mitterrand. "We would have needed a Chirac in each constituency," said Georges Pompidou, while the gallists and their allies had kept the majority at one seat.

"Such was Jacques Chirac: his daring moves, his rants, his thrusts too, made him enter this gallery of extraordinary characters who shaped the Republic," said Mr. Ferrand, who will propose a plaque at his old seat in the hemicycle.

An exhibition was improvised at the Salon de la Paix (the Salle des Pas Perdus) in honor of the man who was re-elected as a member until 1995.

You can see pictures of Jacques Chirac in the hemicycle, on his land of choice or at the Salon de l'agriculture, as well as old election brochures or professions of faith, and his MP cards filled by hand.

The Senate will pay tribute on Wednesday at 3 pm to the former head of state, who died Thursday at 86 years.

© 2019 AFP