Chirac survives furore over fifth nuclear test

Date: 04/01/1996

By Michael Mann

DESPITE the usual round of condemnation which greeted the fifth in the current series of French nuclear tests in the South Pacific, President Jacques Chirac seems to have weathered the storm surrounding his decision last September to resume testing.

The explosion on 27 December came despite the United Nations resolution passed last month calling for an immediate end to nuclear testing.

Among those joining the chorus of criticism were several EU member states, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, Sweden and Greece. Notably absent was the UK, which is widely rumoured to be sharing the tests' data.

There is little doubt that the blast could not have been less well-timed from a public relations point of view. It came during the Christmas lull, a time when the press had little else to divert its attention.

Pauline Green, Socialist group leader in the European Parliament, reflected the views of many when she said the test was hardly in keeping with the Christmas ideals. “The season of goodwill clearly has not penetrated the Elysée Palace. President Chirac is the mean-minded, grumpy old Scrooge of the international community. He is trying to rub people's noses in the fact that, even at the season of goodwill, he can defy international opinion and order fresh nuclear tests.”

A statement from Chirac's Gaullist party stressed that the latest test represented the president's “determination to guarantee France's independence and the security of the French people”.

Press reports suggested that Chirac had ordered the delay of the test, originally planned for 22 December, so that it would not coincide with crucial talks with the unions designed to bring to an end three weeks of industrial unrest.

The president has promised to end the testing programme in February, three months earlier than originally planned. It is still possible that the final test could be carried out before Chirac's visit to Washington on 1 February.

The latest blast will come as a further blow to those in the European Parliament who hoped that their pledge to study the data submitted by Paris to the Commission in October might influence the course of the programme. Analysis by the Parliament's environment committee is now only due to begin as the tests draw to a close.