"Defendant Chirac, Jacques ..." Veruntreuungsprozess against ex-President Chirac
yet has it been established whether the scheduled process can take place on Monday against the former and visibly aged President Jacques Chirac over illegal party funding by "fictitious places".
is Possibly the first of the trial against former President Jacques Chirac before the Paris criminal court also been the last. The lawyer for a co-defendant in this spectacular Veruntreuungsprozess power in a constitutionally substantiated complaint contends that was not previously common interpretation of the statute of limitations in such crimes with the law. If the objection is upheld, the Court of Cassation has to decide, and then, possibly, the Constitutional Council. Even Chirac's own lawyers with formal legal arguments apply for a postponement. A postponement for an indefinite period, they could then demand with reference to the health of the aged visibly statesman, who has become since his retirement from active politics one of the most popular person in France.
"He is no longer the same," say those close to the former head of state, the only small Steps, usually supported by companions moved forward and also to suffer memory lapses and moments of complete absence. To forestall rumors, denied by Bernadette Chirac, had recently been in the press that her husband diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. He was willing to attend his trial. It would be the first time in the history of the Fifth Republic that a president stands before the judge. On the first trial, which is entirely devoted to the discussion of the various complaints, but Chirac is not in the courtroom to attend.
His opponents had painted the scene for some time. "Defendant, step forward," the chairman would the Paris criminal court call at the beginning of the trial, in which the former mayor of the capital, chief of the Gaullist RPR party, Prime Minister and later President of the Republic (from 1995 to 2007) therefore the responsibility still for financial crimes from an era has already history is.
Several attempts to draw Chirac to justice were frustrated by the immunity he enjoyed as head of state 1995-2007. This allowed him to any summons, even as a mere witness, and rejected a fortiori by search warrant with regard to its position. Other procedures have been because of the lapse of the facts or with thanks the indulgence of the dependent by the political authorities prosecutor set. Some of his employees, including former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Alain Juppe were present, but because of these illegal practices of the finance policies by "fictitious places" sentenced to imprisonment.
now goes to 28 in 1992 and 1995 by the City of Paris on Chirac's alleged behest of the city of Paris paid employees who worked in reality for the Gaullist RPR party. If the case against Chirac, may be continued and should be done at the end of a conviction, he faces up to ten years in prison. Chirac calls himself innocent, but he has a comparison agreed with today's socialist Paris city government. Against payment of € 2.2 million through him and the conservative UMP party financially compensated Paris dispense with a lawsuit.
