France's Chirac to give rare television interview

PARIS - President Jacques Chirac, under fire on several fronts, will give an unscheduled interview to French television later to outline his government's plans for the coming months, according to one of his aides.

It will be the first such interview in almost a year and comes at a time when the conservative government is besieged by scandals, internal strife and political controversy.

An official close to Chirac said he "will define the projects that he intends to follow with the government" in the run up to the 2007 presidential election.

He would also answer "topical questions", the official said, declining to be named.

Among the most pressing political problems are the fate of aerospace giant EADS, which has been hit by management woes at its flagship Airbus, and delayed plans to merge French utilities Gaz de France and Suez.

However, the official said calls for Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin to resign were not seen as a "topical".

Chirac was not due to face a television grilling until his annual interview broadcast on July 14, the anniversary of the 1789 French revolution.

However, news magazine Le Point reported earlier this month that the 73-year-old president was considering making an earlier appearance in a bid to seize the initiative and confound his critics who have accused him of political drift.

The live interview will be aired during France 2's bulletin at 8pm on Monday local time.

- REUTERS