Monod to style Chirac image

Paris: French President Jacques Chirac has set up a new

communications unit to boost his profile in view of a probable

re-election bid in the spring of 2002.

Chirac has appointed Jerome Monod to take care of his image in the wake

of repeated attacks from the Socialist legislative majority in the

National Assembly and from within the ranks of his own Gaullist party,

notably Paris mayor Jean Tiberi.

Monod is the former chairman of Suez-Lyonnaise, the communications group

that controls a number of important French media, including Television

par Satellite and private channel M6.

Monod was effectively ousted from his position last year by current Suez

chairman Gerard Mestrallet.

The day-to-day running of the Chirac press office continues in the hands

of his younger daughter Claude, official spokeswoman Catherine Colonna

and press secretary Agathe Samson.