Jacques Chirac in the 1970s

1972: Chirac as minister of agriculture Photograph: Jacques Haillot/Sygma/Corbis

1974: As French prime minister, Chirac signs a pact with Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi president, giving priority to France for commercial exchange with Iraq Photograph: Henri Bureau/Sygma/Corbis

1975: With Deng Xiaoping in Paris during the Chinese vice-premier's state visit Photograph: Keystone/Getty Images

1975: Chirac sits in a Jaguar fighter plane at Saint-Dizier air base after going for a ride Photograph: AP

1976: Chirac during a TV debate broadcast on Antenna 2 Photograph: Roger-Viollet/Rex Features

1976: Jacques Chirac makes a speech in Paris at the time of a meeting during which the Union for the Defence of the Republic (UDR) was transformed into the RPR party Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

1976: Chirac meets Saddam Hussein again Photograph: Henri Bureau/Sygma/Corbis

1976: Chirac on vacation at his home in Corrèze Photograph: Henri Bureau/Sygma/Corbis

1976: Chirac with the Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi during an official visit to India Photograph: Henri Bureau/Sygma/Corbis

1977: Chirac celebrates his election as mayor of Paris in front of the Arc de Triomphe Photograph: Henri Bureau/Sygma/Corbis

1977: Chirac as president of the Rally for the Republic (RPR) in front of a portrait of Charles de Gaulle during a meeting of the party in Montereau Photograph: Michel Clement/AFP/Getty

1978: Chirac in his mayoral office at the Hotel de Ville, Paris Photograph: Roger-Viollet/Rex Features

1978: Chirac appears on the French TV show Cartes sur la Table Photograph: Richard Melloul/Sygma/Corbis