Chirac's malaise

Former French President Jacques Chirac was scheduled to appear in a Paris court Monday to begin his trial on embezzlement charges, but health concerns kept him from the courtroom.

The trial had been on hold since March due to an appeal of one of the charges by one of Chirac's co-defendants.

Over the weekend, Chirac's lawyers wrote a letter to the court saying Chirac "no longer had the full capacity to participate in the proceedings" and asked that he be excused from attending.

Specifically, medical documents submitted to Judge Dominique Pauthe indicate a mental impairment may prevent the 78-year-old Chirac from answering questions about events so far in the past.

Trial continues

On Monday, Pauthe said that given the medical report he received, he has decided that the trial will continue without Chirac.

"Jacques Chirac will thus be judged in his absence," Pauthe said.

Earlier in the day, the prosecution said it would not object if Chirac skipped the trial.

Chirac is accused of using public funds for kickbacks and creating fake jobs for party cohorts. If convicted, he could serve up to 10 years in prison and be fined 150,000 euros ($215,000). He had previously been immune to prosecution until the end of his presidency in 2007. Since then, there have been numerous delays to the trial.

The trial marks the first time a former head of state in France has faced criminal charges since the aftermath of World War II, when Marshal Philippe Petain was convicted of treason.

Author: Nicole Goebel, Matt Zuvela (Reuters, AFP)
Editor: Martin Kuebler