Paris - Some 30 heads of state and government leaders have so
far said they will attend a large memorial service in Paris for
former French president Jacques Chirac that is scheduled for Monday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Italian President Sergio Mattarella
and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban are among those expected to
attend, the Elysee Palace said on Saturday. EU Commission President
Jean-Claude Juncker and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also
announced plans to go to the memorial for Chirac, who died Thursday.
Former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is also expected,
according to the Elysee. In 2003, Chirac supported Schroeder in his
fight against former US president George W Bush's plans for invading
Iraq.
Monday will be a national day of mourning for France. A Mass in the
Paris church Saint Sulpice will pay homage to Chirac, who died at age
86. His coffin will be brought in a convey beforehand to Paris'
second-largest church.
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to be in attendance at
the service, as are former presidents Francois Hollande, Nicolas
Sarkozy und Valery Giscard d'Estaing.