Always the more socialist of the two of us, hey?

About Chirac you're spot on: he misses legitimacy and fails to recognize it. Then again, what is he to do? Hide in his office and pretend he is not governing?

There are NO alternatives. The so-called Left wings are de facto the same than the “conservative” parties. Same politics, some goals, same schools, same training, some vocabulary, they are friends.
I agree again. Nonetheless, I think that the populace is an even bigger problem. They refuse alternatives, they are the ones preventing change. Who cares about politicians and énarques. In the end, we get what we deserve.

I vote against the EU constitution because I didn’t want THIS Europe. I didn’t vote against the Polish plumber, but I want the Polish Plumber to have the same right (and salary) than the French one.
I'm going to be awfully impolite and question your motive: somewhere deep down, is it not fear for your own position and not concern for the Polish that made you vote no?
Furthermore, if you don't want this Europe, and few would indeed, would you not agree that it is that no-vote that created the deadlock we currently find ourselves in?