FRANCE: Judge to rule whether former President Jacques Chirac will attend his trial in Paris on charges of misuse of public funds

Record ID: 858885

  • Title: FRANCE: Judge to rule whether former President Jacques Chirac will attend his trial in Paris on charges of misuse of public funds
  • Date: 7th September 2011
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF JACQUES CHIRAC WHEN HE WAS MAYOR OF PARIS
  • Embargoed: 22nd September 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France, France
  • City:
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Crime,Politics,People
  • Reuters ID: LVAEECMMXGDTRRKN2JOLHP6K0L09
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  • Story Text: A long-delayed trial into misuse of public funds by former French president Jacques Chirac opened on Monday (September 5), but a senior neurologist has advised the frail 78-year-old is not well enough to attend hearings.
    Chirac is accused of embezzling public money to fund his political party via phantom jobs at Paris Town Hall while he was mayor between 1977 and 1995, the year he was elected head of state.
    Chirac will not be present at a procedural hearing on Monday afternoon that kicks off the trial and judge Dominique Pauthe will examine a medical assessment that found him mentally unfit to be questioned about events so far in the past.
    "It's obvious that a trial which is being held in the absence of Jacques Chirac has lost a lot of its interest. But given that President Chirac wants the trial to go ahead, I can only submit myself to the free decision of the court," his lawyer, Georges Kiejman said on arrival.
    The allegations have hung over Chirac since he lost his presidential immunity in 2007. After years of delays and legal obstacles, a final hurdle was lifted in June and the trial was due to go ahead even though Chirac and the ruling conservative UMP party had offered to pay money to settle the case.
    Pauthe could ask for a second medical evaluation, postpone the trial again or drop it altogether. Politicians of all persuasions have called for the trial, but to spare Chirac -- one of France's longest-serving presidents and fondly regarded across the country -- from having to attend.
    Chirac's wife Bernadette has said for some time her husband has memory problems which could be linked to a small stroke he suffered several years ago.
    The neurologist's report submitted to the court this week argues he is not up to attending court.
    The ruling conservative UMP party, centrists and opposition leftists all reacted sympathetically to the medical concerns.
    Chirac, who has repeatedly said he wants to stand trial, appeared in good spirits over the summer, photographed sipping a pina colada cocktail in the resort of St. Tropez.
    But speculation is rife over his mental acuity, with French media reporting a deterioration in his responsiveness and verbal agility -- and most notable an unawareness of his inability to recall facts.
    Chirac's camp has not asked for the trial to be called off but his lawyers also feel he may not be competent to attend.
    Chirac is accused of misuse of public funds, abuse of trust and incurring illegal gains, in events dating back to between 1992 and 1995 and linked to 28 allegedly phantom town hall jobs.
    On trial with nine co-defendants, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a 150,000 euro ($213,400) fine if found guilty, but would more likely be handed a suspended sentence.
    President from 1995 to 2007, Chirac was not expected to appear in person for the entire procedure but was due to attend key hearings of the trial, due to run until Sept. 23.
    The trial would mark the first time since World War Two that a former French head of state has appeared in court on criminal charges.
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