Former French President Jacques Chirac ordered to stand trial in corruption case

France’s Chirac ordered to stand trial

PARIS — A judicial official says former French President Jacques Chirac has been ordered to stand trial in an alleged corruption scandal dating back to his 1977-1995 tenure as Paris mayor.

The prosecutor had asked the court to drop the case. But a magistrate ordered Chirac to stand trial for “misuse of public funds” and “breach of trust.” The judicial official spoke Friday on condition of anonymity because the case is ongoing.

A judge has been investigating whether people in Chirac’s circle were given sham jobs as advisers and paid by Paris City Hall, even though they weren’t working for it.

Chirac’s office said he was “serene” and prepared to demonstrate that none of the jobs were phony.