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| Europe | |
| Chirac in hospital for a week | |
| 2005-09-04 | |
Although the problem did not seem serious, it is likely to be seen as another setback for 72-year-old Chirac after a string of political defeats that have left the conservative politician increasingly isolated at home and abroad. He was taken to a hospital in Paris on Friday evening after reporting eye problems and bad headaches, but was said last night to be alert and consulting advisers. 'He can't wait to leave [hospital],' said Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, who was apparently not told until yesterday that the President had been admitted. 'He is on good form.' Chirac's illness, which has forced him to cancel or delay several appointments this week, is likely to trigger questions about future changes in the French political landscape that Chirac has dominated for a decade. As supporters played down the severity of his condition, doctors said such a problem could range from a ruptured blood vessel to a stroke, which often affects the vision. Chirac's office said he had slight difficulties with his sight following a blood vessel problem known as a 'vascular accident'. Chirac's schedule for the week included a summit on Tuesday with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Germany and a meeting on Friday with Prince Albert of Monaco. De Villepin will chair a cabinet meeting on Wednesday in Chirac's place, the Elysée Palace said. Chirac, who used to smoke heavily and is not thought to take regular exercise, pledged to never speak about his health when he took over the presidency in 1995. His predecessor, Francois Mitterrand, had kept his cancer secret for years. He has, however, sought to portray himself as dynamic and energetic, reportedly telling off a former minister for hinting publicly that he wore a hearing aid. Chirac has few grey hairs, wears contact lenses rather than glasses and has a year-round tan. Aides say he watches his waistline. Elysée officials said they believed that Chirac had not previously missed a day's work due to ill health since taking office. His only other known health problem was breaking his pelvis in a car crash in the Seventies. | |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #5 OK follow this trail. 1. "vascular accident" 2. Pfizer Says Review Concludes That Viagra Doesn't Increase Patients' Risk of Blindness link: Yahoo article 3. ANTERIOR ISCHEMIC OPTIC NEUROPATHY (AION) link: Handbook of Ocular Disease Management 4. Hmmmmm? |
| Posted by: PayDay 2005-09-04 13:06 |
| #4 Ah, the sweet smell of rotting cheese. |
| Posted by: Captain America 2005-09-04 12:07 |
| #3 I hope all his nurses are muscular male opera fans. |
| Posted by: Fleling Whens9320 2005-09-04 08:22 |
| #2 JFM you know he can't leave office, he could end up in jail. At least he will stay out of trouble for a week hopefully. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet O´ Doom 2005-09-04 05:54 |
| #1 Then the rude comments will be from myself. As a nice man I would, I suppoose, prefer if he stepped out of power voluntarily but as I consider him bad for the country and, because he conforts dictators and terrorists, bad for humanity the sooner he gets out of the way the better. |
| Posted by: JFM 2005-09-04 03:56 |