Chirac ignores summons

By Vaiju Naravane

PARIS, MARCH 28. The French President, Mr. Jacques Chirac, today refused to answer the summons of an examining magistrate investigating corruption scandals in Paris which date back to Mr. Chirac's tenure as Mayor of the French capital.

The Elysee Presidential Palace in a statement issued today said Mr. Chirac would not answer the summons which the statement claimed went counter to the principle of separation of powers enshrined in the Constitution. The summons was sent last week by judge Eric Halphen, one of France's new crop of persevering and intrepid judges. He had asked the President to see him in his chambers in the capacity of ``a witness'' who could shed light on the enquiry.

The reception of the summons sent indignant shock waves through the French right, particularly among members of Mr. Chirac's Rally for the Republic (RPR) party. A meeting of the parliamentary Conservative Group was dominated by the summons and how to interpret it.

The Elysee Palace was categorical in its rejection of the summons. ``In view of the constitutional rules, the President cannot answer this summons which is contrary in principle to the separation of powers and to the demands of the continuity of the state,'' said the presidential palace statement.

Mr. Chirac was the mayor of Paris between 1977 and 1995. He has always claimed that he had nothing to do with illegal jobs, fictitious contracts and kickbacks from construction contracts for the building of schools and low cost housing in the capital.

However, Jean-Claude Mery, one of Mr. Chirac's former collaborator recorded a video-cassette just prior to his death from cancer in which he made sever allegations directly involving the President. ``All the orders were given by Mr. Chirac who was physically present on one occasion when a suitcase containing money was handed over to his assistant,'' Mery claimed. Mery did time for his involvement in the scandals but claimed that he had been paid paltry sums for his silence.

Several dozen people from the RPR are under investigation for their role in fraudulent financial practices that were allegedly `customary' in Paris City Hall during Mr. Chirac's tenure as Mayor.

In local elections held in France on March 18, the Conservatives lost Paris City Hall to the socialists after 130 years of uninterrupted rule. The new Mayor, Mr. Bertrand Delanoe, has announced an audit into the city finances.

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