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Corruption judge 'to quiz Chirac' Corruption judge 'to quiz Chirac'
(30 minutes later)
French justice officials say President Jacques Chirac will be questioned when he leaves office by a judge leading a corruption case, AFP news agency says.French justice officials say President Jacques Chirac will be questioned when he leaves office by a judge leading a corruption case, AFP news agency says.
The investigation dates to the time when he served as mayor of Paris. Several of Mr Chirac's political allies have already faced investigation.The investigation dates to the time when he served as mayor of Paris. Several of Mr Chirac's political allies have already faced investigation.
Mr Chirac, 74, has denied the allegations dating from 1977-1995.Mr Chirac, 74, has denied the allegations dating from 1977-1995.
He said on Sunday he would not stand again for president. He has been immune from prosecution while in power. He said on Sunday he would not stand again for president. He has been immune from prosecution while head of state.
Mr Chirac will stand down in mid-May, following presidential elections next month, and his immunity will end a month later.
During his time as mayor, there were widespread claims that Mr Chirac and his entourage were using city funds to pay for his then political party, the Rally for the Republic (RPR).
Questions were raised over Mr Chirac's use of funds while mayorOne of his closest allies in Paris city hall, former French Prime Minister Alain Juppe, was convicted in January 2004 in connection with a party funding scam.
The BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Paris says questions have also been asked about Mr Chirac's luxury family holidays while mayor, paid for in cash, as well as the lavish spending of city money on Chirac family groceries.
However, it is not clear that there is much public appetite for criminal proceedings, our correspondent says.
Although Mr Chirac was caricatured as "super-liar" on French television and many feel that his long years in power achieved little, she says, there is still much public affection for the man who incarnated France's greatest strengths - and its greatest weaknesses.