PRESIDENT Jacques Chirac last night rejected charges that his policies to dispel national gloom are not working 19 months after he took office, and vowed to stand firm behind his embattled premier, Mr Alain Juppe.
In a prime time TV interview designed to reassure a troubled France, he also pledged to press ahead with France's role in Europe, saying only in unison could the continent maintain its global economic power.
Mr Chirac said he was aware that many people felt let down by his presidency, but he said he stood by the pledges he made during his successful election campaign which brought him to power in May 1995.
Pressed over recent intense speculation about Mr Juppe, who has slumped to opinion record poll lows, he paid tribute to his courage in implementing difficult reforms.
"The French people are worried. They need explanations, dialogue," Mr Chirac said. Of Mr Juppe he said: "I have confidence in him. I don't plan to change the government that would not be healthy."
On the eve of the Dublin EU summit, Mr Chirac pledged to continue to work at the heart of Europe, rejecting in particular doubts about a single European currency.
"The Euro will give us the means to fight the American hegemony, he said. But he also warned against those who said the French franc should be devalued against the German mark, warning that this could lead to a genuine European crisis.
"It would be unacceptable for the Germans. It would explode the European construction," he said.
Referring to election pledges made last year, Mr Chirac conceded that much remained to be done. "It is time to return to the republican values on which our culture is founded," he said.
Mr Chirac also paid tribute to European co operation over terrorist investigations, denying that France is angry at some of its neighbours over their role.