Tonight:
9°c
Chirac ordered to stand trial
Peter Allen in Paris30.10.09
Jacques Chirac is to become the first former president in French history to stand trial for corruption.
The 76-year-old faces embezzlement charges dating back to his time as the Mayor of Paris. They mainly relate to "ghost" jobs awarded to political cronies who were allowed huge salaries and expenses for doing nothing.
"Mr Chirac will stand trial for misuse of public funds and breach of trust," said a judicial source at the Paris Prosecutor's Office today.
Less than a year ago Jean-Claude Marin, chief public prosecutor of Paris, said there was no case against Mr Chirac.
But Xaviere Simeoni, a judge who has since reviewed the evidence, said it clearly pointed towards corruption.
Chirac, pictured right, who was mayor from 1977 until 1995 when he was elected president, was principally investigated over 35 work contracts awarded by Paris City Hall to friends or associates.
The allegations against the former president originally included backhander payments made for contracts to refurbish secondary schools in the Paris region.
A source close to Chirac, who divides his time between Paris and an estate in Morocco, said he was "relaxed" about the charges and convinced he could avoid trial.
The source said there would be an appeal against the decision to prosecute.
During his 12 years in power Mr Chirac was able to claim immunity against all the charges - an option no longer open to him.
Commentators have often said that a British politician would probably have resigned long ago when faced with such accusations.
Reader views (2)
It looks as if justice is about to be done. If Mr. Chirac was involved in corruption as Mayor of Paris why should he be above the law. In Britain the Freedom of Information Act worked and the voters are dealing with the politicans.
- Andrew, London
British politicians only resign when forced out of office by newspaper headlines and then extremely reluctantly. It is hard to see much "honour" at Westminster. I suspect our Tony may now be considering his position.
- Colin Macpherson, Gramat France
