Former French President Chirac On Trial For Corruption

[jimmy olsen]

Any Euros know more about the validity of these charges?

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/europe/Former-French-President-on-Trial-for-Corruption-Charges-117511629.html

Former French President on Trial for Corruption Charges

Lisa Bryant | Paris  March 07, 2011
AP

Former French President Jacques Chirac went on trial Monday on corruption charges related to hirings that allegedly benefited his center-right party. Chirac becomes the first French head of state to go on trial.

The charges date back to when former President Jacques Chirac was mayor of Paris, between 1977 and 1995. The 78-year-old former head of state is accused of giving people city hall jobs when they really worked for his then center-right Rally for the Republic Party.

He denies the allegations, arguing all the posts were legitimate.

Corruption allegations against Chirac have persisted for years. But as president, he enjoyed immunity from prosecution – which ended when he left office. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in jail and a fine of about $207,000 dollars.

In brief remarks Sunday to France's Europe 1 radio, Chirac said he was as well as could be expected – French media have reported he may have Alzheimer's disease although his wife has denied this. He refused to discuss the trial.

During his last years in office, Chirac battled high unpopularity ratings. But now, he is among the most popular figures in France – and the French are divided over whether he should stand trial.

Dominique Paille, spokesman for the ruling, center-right UMP party – which was founded under Chirac's presidency – said the French justice system could have avoided a trial.

Paille told France Info radio it was sad that Chirac should be on trial at the end of his life. He said Chirac's political legacy dwarfed the allegations against him – and that the trial would hurt France's image.

Last year, Paris city hall dropped separate civil charges against Chirac following a $3 million settlement. Chirac, however, did not acknowledge any wrongdoing.

[Neil]

These charges are trumped-up and are only being pressed because of heavy US pressure.

[Slargos]

He's French, and that's just one step removed from Sub-Saharan and that's almost like corruption guaranteed. You can put that in the bank.

[Caliga]

I thought this was just the way things worked in countries like France, Italy, Spain, etc.

[viper37]

Any Euros know more about the validity of these charges?

Not a Euro, but I'll bite.

He's been under suspicion for a while now, but he couldn't be indicted while he was in office.  Now, he has to stand trial.

Valid or not, it's up to the court to decide.  It has nothing to do with politics per see, meaning, he's not accused because he was theoritically member of a right-wing political party but because there seems to be evidences he did something wrong.

But in these kind of cases, it's hard to tell.  It's not like there's a receipt for "100 000 euros in exchange of a job".

[Jaron]

guillotine.jpg

[Duque de Bragança]

Chiracaille is guilty but will get away with a technicality or a very  lenient fine. That said, until the mid '90s, there was no taxpayer funding for political parties so those jobs sometimes served that purpose.
He is a crook but a popular one now

[HisMajestyBOB]

Any Euros know more about the validity of these charges?

But in these kind of cases, it's hard to tell.  It's not like there's a receipt for "100 000 euros in exchange of a job".

That's why the Germans are never very good at corruption.

[grumbler]

Chirac may be technically guilty of corruption, but not corruption-corruption.  He should be released and rewarded.

[Ed Anger]

Is he gay-friendly? Does he like giant robots?

[DGuller]

That's why the Germans are never very good at corruption.

[MadImmortalMan]

Is this about oil-for-food?

[viper37]

He is a crook but a popular one now

why is he popular now?  Nostalgia?

[viper37]

Is this about oil-for-food?

no.  Some illicit financing of his party.

[Valmy]

I thought this was just the way things worked in countries like France, Italy, Spain, etc.

France usually ranks around where we rank on the corruption indexes...for what that's worth.  But Slargos probably feels the same way about Kentuckians.