By DPA,
Paris: Former French president Jacques Chirac will go on trial early next year on corruption charges, according to French courts.
The 77-year-old wil be the first French president to ever stand trial.
Chirac stands accused of using his position as mayor of Paris, a job he held from 1977 to 1995, to secure jobs for supporters in his political party. At least 21 people reportedly were added to city hall payrolls in the early 1990s, when in reality they worked for the Rally for the Republic (RPR) political party.
The trial’s start has been set for March 7, 2011. It is expected to last around a month.
In order to reduce the scope of the trial, Chirac and the Union for a Popular Movement party – the successor to the RPR – have paid a 2.2-million-euro ($3 million) settlement to the city of Paris in exchange for the city removing itself as a plaintiff in the case.
If found guilty, Chirac could face up to 10 years in jail and fines of 150,000 euros.
Chirac was president of France between 1995 and 2007.