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Former president of France Jacques Chirac defends his honour

Friday, 23 November 2007

Former president of France Jacques Chirac defends his honour

Former president of France Jacques Chirac, who is currently under police investigation for embezzlement during a time period when he was mayor of Paris, says he will fight to defend his honour.

Jacques Chirac, who lost immunity from investigation after he left the presidency in May, was interrogated for more than three hours on Wednesday over the case, which relates to a scheme whereby supporters of his RPR party were said to have received jobs given by the city hall of Paris.

It is alleged that up to 40 people received salaries from the city of Paris despite having had no connection to the local authority.

Last summer, another judge had already questioned Jacques Chirac over the same matter but he has maintained his innocence of any wrongdoing while he was mayor between 1977 and 1995.

"I am going to fight at the same time for the truth and my honour," Jacques Chirac is reported to have said on the TF1 television channel.

Jacques Chirac may be the first former president to face criminal charges in the history of France.

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