Jacques Chirac trial to go ahead after court ruling on co-accused

The long-awaited trial of Mr Chirac and nine co-defendants marks the first time a former French head of state has been tried since 1945.

The trial, which only opened after 11 years of legal wrangling, was postponed in March so that France's Court of Appeals could consider a complaint from a co-defendant that some of the alleged offences were too old to be tried under a statute of limitations.

The delay triggered an outcry from anti-graft campaigners who feared Mr Chirac would get special treatment as a former president.

The 78-year-old, who ruled France for 12 years until 2007, is accused of using public money to pay for phantom jobs for political cronies while he was mayor of Paris between 1977 and 1995.

A Paris court is now to decide on June 20 when the trial should resume, with a date in September considered as likely.Mr Chirac, who remains one of France's most popular politicians, enjoyed immunity from prosecution during his two terms as president.

If found guilty, Mr Chirac could be sentenced to up to ten years in prison and could be ordered to pay €150,000 (130,000) in fines.

However, a suspended sentence is considered more likely in the event of a conviction.

Should Chirac himself stand in the dock, it would be the first time a former head of state has faced criminal charges in more than 60 years

In 1945, Marshal Philippe Petain, a former First World War hero who led France's government during Nazi occupation, was found guilty of treason after the country's liberation.

It would also be a victory for prosecutors facing political pressure to abandon proceedings against the former president.

Four years after the end of his 12-year presidential term, Mr Chirac is still regarded fondly by the French public.

He was applauded earlier this year when he visited a farm show in Paris, tasting beer and chatting to farmers.

Meanwhile, a major national poll last July showed that Mr Chirac was France's most popular political figure.

Many leading French politicians have previously said they were saddened that the trial of their political mentor would go ahead. But despite his popularity many people see the trial as a test of whether courts will treat him differently from other politicians accused of crimes.

Another poll in March showed that 56 per cent of French people wanted Mr Chirac to face trial, versus 31 per cent against.

"Justice applies to all French people," Dominique de Villepin, a former prime minister who was once a Chirac protege, said earler this year."Sometimes, even when we find it unfair, we must agree to explain, to be held accountable, especially those in power."

In Februrary, Mr Chirac struck a bullish tone, denying rumours that he may be too feeble to stand trial for alleged corruption. Responding to reports that he may be suffering from Alzheimer's disease, he said: "Do I give the impression of not doing well? I'm doing fine,"

Earlier, his wife Bernadette described the report, in Le Journal du Dimanche, as "a lie".

She said her husband has occasional memory problems and some hearing and walking difficulties, but wants to be treated like any other citizen by the court. He "should be treated no better but also no worse than any other" during his trial, Mrs Chirac added.