Chirac ‘unable to follow his corruption trial because of failing memory’

Former French president Jacques Chirac is unable to attend his own corruption trial because he suffers from a failing memory, his lawyers have claimed.

The final decision will be up to the trial judge, but after hearing the most detailed public information yet about Chirac’s health, the prosecution said it would not object if he missed the trial.

The Paris judge has several options, including suspending the proceedings to await further medical expertise, proceeding without 78-year-old Chirac in the courtroom, or throwing out the case.

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France’s first trial involving a former head of state since the Second World War is due to run until September 23. It was suspended shortly after it began in March so a higher court could rule on an appeal by one of the co-defendants.

Judge Dominique Pauthe read from a letter by Chirac’s lawyers saying the ex-president wanted to be heard because it would be “useful for our democracy” and show that “all people are equal under the law.”

The letter, Pauthe said, came accompanied by 4 pages of medical records, including a brain scan in April. Lawyer Jean Veil told the court that Chirac suffers from “severe memory lapses” linked to an “irreversible condition.”

Chriac denies the alleged creation of more than two-dozen fake municipal jobs to fund his party while he was mayor of Paris ,

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