Jacques Chirac, br Former French br President, Dead at 86 Chirac was a popular two-term br president who served from 1995 until 2007. His death was confirmed br by French authorities. Chirac was a vocal supporter br of the European Union and an br outspoken opponent of br the U.S. war in Iraq. As an 18-year mayor of Paris, br he cultivated a "man of br the people" persona. Although widely considered br a political conservative, Chirac br "was able to bridge the br left-right divide” of his country. In 2011, Chirac's legacy was br tarnished when he was br convicted for embezzlement. Regardless of the conviction, br Chirac remained one of br the most popular French br politicians of modern times.