“I Ask You to Stop”: Édouard Balladur’s Famous Line After His 1995 Presidential Defeat

Édouard Balladur’s failed 1995 presidential campaign left behind a line that outlasted the defeat itself: “I ask you to stop.”

Balladur had entered the race in January from the prime minister’s office, convinced that his strong popularity could carry him past Jacques Chirac. Chirac, the RPR leader and Balladur’s longtime political ally, initially appeared weakened and was widely seen as the underdog.

The campaign gradually changed direction. Chirac traveled across France while Balladur’s lead in the polls melted between the winter of 1994 and spring 1995. On April 23, Balladur was eliminated in the first round after receiving 18.58% of the vote, compared with 20.84% for Chirac.

The rivalry had been especially bitter among the two camps and their supporters. When Balladur endorsed Chirac against Socialist candidate Lionel Jospin in his concession speech, some of his supporters jeered Chirac. Balladur responded twice: “I ask you to stop.”

He later abandoned any further national presidential ambitions, although he continued to influence French political life. The phrase, however, moved beyond the campaign and entered popular culture and the media landscape.

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I ask you to stop!