The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20110309053006/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/news/worldnews/europe/france/8366721/Jacques-Chirac-trial-faces-further-delays.html
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Wednesday 09 March 2011

Jacques Chirac trial faces further delays

It has taken 15 years to bring Jacques Chirac to court on corruption charges but a last minute legal query may put off for yet more months the first trial of a former French leader since the Second World War.

Jacques Chirac was due in court today but a legal challenge by another defendant stalled proceedings
Jacques Chirac was due in court today but a legal challenge by another defendant stalled proceedings Photo: REUTERS

The ailing 78-year old former president was due on Tuesday to make his first appearance in court after a 45-year political career in which he managed to avoid a litany of corruption allegations.

These range from vote-rigging in Paris and organising kickbacks from companies to fund his Gaullist RPR party to paying around £330,000 in cash for dozens of luxury family holidays and £1.8 million in "family groceries" while mayor of Paris, much of it in cash.

He escaped all of these investigations, citing presidential immunity.

However, Mr Chirac finally faces charges of misusing public funds in order to fund 28 bogus jobs for staff of his Gaullist RPR party, along with a host of cronies when he was mayor of Paris in the mid-1990s. The aim, according to investigating magistrates, was to further his political career and clinch the presidency.

He is the first French former head of state to face criminal charges since Marshal Petain was convicted of treason after the Second World War. Nine other defendants face related charges.

However, the presiding judge must decide on Tuesday whether to push on with the trial or postpone it, possibly for up to six months.

This followed a request by a lawyer for one of the defendants for France's highest constitutional court to rule on whether part of the charges breach the statute of limitations covering abuse of funds. If the judge agrees, the legal matter will then probably be referred in turn to France's constitutional council, a body of top legalists and former presidents. Mr Chirac is a member.

In a rare move, the public prosecutor, Jean-Claude Marin, also called for the matter to be referred.

This drew a fierce response from the civil plaintiff's lawyers, who claimed the prosecutor was under government orders.

"This Chirac trial is not wanted. One can clearly see the political stakes behind it," said Jérôme Karsenti, who represents a group of disgruntled taxpayers. "(The trial) denounces a political system put in place by the current (Right-wing) ruling majority (of President Nicolas Sarkozy). That's why they don't want this trial."

Mr Chirac stands accused of running a system of council-funded salaries to seven staff at his Gaullist party, the Rally for the Republic, and another 21 salaried council jobs for friends and allies, most of whom did absolutely nothing in return.

The legal quibble relates to the second batch of 21 "ghost jobs". However, the judge may decide to push on with the trial relating to the seven remaining fake jobs. Mr Chirac is the only person facing charges in this part of the case, so could theoretically appear in court on Wednesday.

Mr Chirac's entourage has painted him as frail, suffering from frequent memory lapses, while several former opponents are now saying he should be left in peace.

After a rocky presidency, Mr Chirac is today among France's favourite political figures, with a 73 per cent approval rating in a January poll.

Roughly the same percentage of French now disapproves of his successor, Nicolas Sarkozy.

Despite that popularity, 71 per cent of the French think he should finally stand trial, a poll suggested yesterday.

The worst he can expect is a suspended prison term and a fine. But the slur on his legacy would be indelible.

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