First "cohabitation" (1986–1988) and "desert Crossing"
When the RPR/UDF right-wing coalition won a slight majority in the National Assembly in the 1986 election, Mitterrand (PS) appointed Chirac prime minister (though many in Mitterrand's inner circle lobbied him to choose Jacques Chaban-Delmas instead). This unprecedented power-sharing arrangement, known as cohabitation, gave Chirac the lead in domestic affairs. However, it is generally conceded that Mitterrand used the areas granted to the President of the Republic, or "reserved domains" of the Presidency, Defense and Foreign Affairs, to belittle his Prime Minister.
Read more about this topic: Jacques Chirac
Famous quotes containing the words cohabitation, desert and/or crossing:
“Not cohabitation but consensus constitutes marriage.”
—Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 B.C.)
“Three people marooned on a desert island would soon reinvent politics.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)
“Bodhidharma sailing the Yangtze on a reed
Lenin in a sealed train through Germany
Hsuan Tsang, crossing the Pamirs
Joseph, Crazy Horse, living the last free
starving high-country winter of their tribes.
Surrender into freedom revolt into slavery—”
—Gary Snyder (b. 1930)