Former French president Jacques Chirac (pictured in April) is to be tried for corruption, officials said, after charges from his years as mayor of Paris returned to taint the twilight of his long career. (AFP/File/Patrick Kovarik)
Posted on 10/30/2009 8:24:09 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
PARIS (AFP) – Jacques Chirac will be the first former French president to be tried for corruption, officials said Friday, after charges from his years as mayor of Paris returned to taint the twilight of his long career.
Chirac stands accused of giving political allies lucrative bogus jobs as city hall "ghost workers" and his trial will be the latest in a series to expose graft and dirty tricks at the highest levels of state.
Judicial officials confirmed to AFP that Chirac would face trial on charges of "abuse of trust" and "misuse of public funds".
A statement from the office of the 76-year-old Gaullist -- who ranks as France's most popular politician two-and-half years after he left office -- said he was "calm and determined" to prove his innocence.
Before serving as president, Chirac was mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995, and is accused of using the city payroll to provide salaries for aides who were in reality working for his right-wing political party.
As head of state between 1995 and 2007 he enjoyed immunity from prosecution, but since stepping down he has joined several of his allies and former aides in being placed under formal judicial investigation. Related article: Jacques Chirac profile piece.
On Friday, in a move to preempt an official announcement, Chirac's office itself confirmed that Judge Xaviere Simeoni had decided -- against the advice of prosecutors -- to order him to stand trial.
Chirac is on holiday in Morocco and has yet to comment personally.
...
Chirac has been dodging investigators for much of his career and his name has long been linked to a string of notorious cases, including two explosive trials that have dominated headlines in recent weeks.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Former French president Jacques Chirac (pictured in April) is to be tried for corruption, officials said, after charges from his years as mayor of Paris returned to taint the twilight of his long career. (AFP/File/Patrick Kovarik)
Hmmm...I would have bet he would go down for the oil scam in Iraq...
“Filling city hall with Ghost workers”? What does he think he is? From MA?
Oh? Like Michelle Obama's last job?
OBUMMER... the bell tolls for thee!
So good!!!!
Or I should say, c’est si bon!!!!
Sounds a lot like someone else we know.
Ghost coat holders? Ghostly bow-tied bum kissers?
Yeah, I’m not crying any tears for this jerk.
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