French President Jacques Chirac said today he was standing by Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, despite widespread criticism following a series of political setbacks and gaffes.
The president, who has come under pressure from members of his own UMP party to sack Mr de Villepin, said in a television interview the government was proving successful in reducing unemployment, lifting the economy and reforming the state.
Mr Chirac said it would be up to the French people to judge the government at elections set for 2007, indicating that Me de Villepin would stay at his post until the end of the legislature.