Jacques Chirac news stories on Newser

France Finds Chirac Guilty of Corruption

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:28:00 CST

A French court found former President Jacques Chirac guilty of embezzling public funds to illegally finance the conservative party he long led, in a historic verdict today with repercussions for his legacy and France's political elite. Chirac will not go behind bars, but was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence...

Chirac, PM Took $20M From African Leaders: Aide

Evann Gastaldo — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:55:00 CDT

Former French president Jacques Chirac and his prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, have been accused of taking $20 million in illicit payments from African heads of state, allegations that both men deny. Lawyer Robert Bourgi, a onetime aide to the politicians, made the accusations in a radio station interview today,...

Chirac Finally Standing Trial

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 16:18:05 CST

After years of claiming presidential immunity to avoid legal proceedings, Jacques Chirac is finally facing a court. Tomorrow, the former president becomes France's first former head of state to go on trial since its Nazi-era leader was exiled—that is, if the whole case isn't derailed by a last-minute protest...

Chirac Must Stand Trial on Corruption Charges

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:15:09 CDT

Former French President Jacques Chirac has been ordered to stand trial in an alleged corruption scandal dating back to his time as Paris mayor—a case that caught up with him in retirement once he lost the judicial immunity of France's highest office. A magistrate ordered Chirac, whose 12-year presidency...

French Leaders Keep Health Hush-Hush

Mat Probasco — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 01:19:57 CDT

Don't expect French President Nicolas Sarkozy to talk about being rushed to the hospital after he collapsed during a jog yesterday. If he's anything like his predecessors, he'll probably say nothing at all, reports AFP. Since 1974, when President Georges Pompidou died while in office from leukemia, French leaders have...

Sarko Jeered at African Leader's Funeral

Jason Farago — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 05:39:30 CDT

Crowds in the African nation of Gabon booed Nicolas Sarkozy at the funeral of the country's long-serving strongman president, Omar Bongo. Dozens of onlookers shouted "We don't want you, leave!" at the French leader and his predecessor, Jacques Chirac. France ruled Gabon in the colonial era and kept close ties...

No, Bloggers: Obama Doesn't Think Chirac Is French Prez

Harry Kimball — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:39:00 CDT

The tone of a letter from President Obama to Jacques Chirac has some in the blogosphere wondering if Obama knows that Chirac is no longer the president of France, writes Jimmy Orr in the Christian Science Monitor reports. “Doesn’t Obama ever consult his staff before acting?” one concerned blogger wrote....

Depressed Pet Mauls Former French Prez

Ambreen Ali — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 10:39:01 CST

Former French President Jacques Chirac is recovering after his depressed poodle mauled him, the Daily Mail reports. Sumo, a white Maltese, takes anti-depressants and is prone to making “vicious, unprovoked attacks,” said Bernadette Chirac, who wouldn’t say where her 76-year-old husband had been bitten. “The dog went for him for...

Sarkozy Sues Over Scandal Diary

Peter Fearon — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:18:29 CDT

France's president Nicolas Sarkozy is at the center of a firestorm over publication of the diaries of a former French Intelligence chief which contain information about several politicians, including details of Sarkozy's personal life, the BBC reports. Yves Bertrand's personal diaries, reported in a news magazine, contain observations about the...