Chirac Launches Bid for Presidency

PARIS — Premier Jacques Chirac launched his presidential campaign Sunday, vowing that if elected he would make France the leading nation in Western Europe.

More than 4,000 supporters cheered as Chirac made his first campaign speech before a meeting of his Rally for the Republic party in an exhibition hall outside Paris.

“I want to make our country the most dynamic power in Europe by the end of the century,” Chirac told the Gaullist party faithful. “Some will say this is a mad idea, but history goes against those who lack ambition.”

Chirac is the first of the major candidates to declare himself for the poll to succeed Socialist President Francois Mitterrand, whose seven-year mandate ends in May. Voting is expected to be held in two rounds on April 24 and May 8.