Chirac announces will not seek re-election

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Jacques Chirac announced on Sunday he would not seek a record third mandate.

Below are comments from politicians and analysts looking back at his achievements and legacy.

GORDON JOHNDROE, SPOKESMAN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL

SECURITY COUNCIL.

"President Bush wishes President Chirac all the best as he enters life after politics. The United States and France have been and will remain steadfast partners and allies."

IRISH PRIME MINISTER, BERTIE AHERN

"...On EU matters I have had no better friend than Jacques Chirac. Ireland owes him a lot. Irish farmers owe him a lot. He contributed to the survival of Irish agriculture .... At the WTO (World Trade Organization) he has also fought the same corner with us for support. He will be sadly missed."

JEAN-MARIE LE PEN, HEAD OF FAR-RIGHT NATIONAL FRONT PARTY

"I think that Jacques Chirac will go down as the worst president in the history of France."

"It's a great joy ... I am losing my worst enemy."

FRANCOIS BAYROU, CENTRIST PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

"I thought (his speech) was very good. I thought the way he expressed himself was both emotional and underlined basic values ... His speech outlined the main thread of what we need to do in France."

SIMONE VEIL, FEMINIST ICON, FORMER HEALTH MINISTER

"I think he is a person who is quite different from the one people see. He was always in the (conservative) RPR party ... but at heart he always wanted a left wing social policy.

"He has regrets, when he talks about his youth in the United States and elsewhere, I think he always wanted to pursue policies that he couldn't because of his political allegiance."

LAURENCE PARISOT, HEAD OF FRENCH EMPLOYERS' GROUP MEDEF