catherine nourse trent is there. currentlearned the president will be making a speech later this evening. macron, who was supposed to be holding a meeting in the south of france, onnching major reform retirements and pensions. he has canceled that engagement. he will be here in paris making a speech to the french nation at 8:00 p.m., paying tribute to jacques chirac. in acrossare coming the political world in france. hollande said the french people have lost a friend today. he hailed jacques chirac as a fighter and said he made a personal link with the people. he was very popular, although he was not at the end of his mandate as president. in later years, he became a popular figure, with many people saying they admired his humor, frankness, an image he cultivated as an affable rogue, someone prepared to break the -- write the rules. marine le pen said this was a big day and that jacques chirac had loved france. >> he had staying power. six decades he was a force in french politics. the palalace for two terms. preside