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As a former House of Representatives staff member, I recall with some bemusement the 2003 edict by the chairman of the House Administration Committee, Bob Ney, that in the House cafeterias, French fries would henceforth be labeled “freedom fries” in light of French President Jacques Chirac bailing on George W. Bush’s Middle East crusade.

Everything was for sale, from the niche perfumes of Troye Sivan’s Tsu Lange Yor, to the red Chirac Sofa by Paulin Paulin Paulin X Christo & Jeanne-Claude X Parley for the Oceans, shown in an all-red room.

The far-right politician inspired such revulsion from the majority that parties across the political spectrum called on their supporters to back President Jacques Chirac for a second term.

Chirac took 82% of the vote, the biggest victory in French political history.

He reached the presidential election-run off against Jacques Chirac in 2002.