Chirac became president of France in an unusual set of political circumstances.
In France the election for President is similar to the "run off" used in many Louisiana races.
Everybody and his dog can run in the first round, and if no candidate gets 50%, they have a round two between the top two vote getters.
Last time in France in round one the political left ran a rather large number of candidates from the assorted factions (7 if I recall) - thus splitting the left wing vote.
On the right you had only two candidates - Chirac and the every colorful Jean-Marie La' Pen.
Mr. Le' Pen has views that are.... out of the mainstream.... to put it mildly...
Supporting Saddam (as in France should send troups to iraq to assist Saddam defend against the US) deporting all immigrants, and a few others are some of his
less controversial views.
http://www.adl.org/international/LePen-1-introduction.aspBecause of the vote split on the left, #1 and #2 in round one was Chirac and Le Pen, thus leaving the left with no candidate and a rather unpleasent choice in round two.
Chirac, who were he not president would likely be in jail for assorted corruption and bribary charges, was "supported" by the French political left in round 2 with the slogan "Vote for the crook and not the fascist!"
