Chirac says he is not money-minded

By Vaiju Naravane

PARIS, DEC. 16. The French President, Mr. Jacques Chirac in an hour-long interview on national television on Thursday denied receiving any kickbacks from lucrative public works contracts when he was the Mayor of Paris and said the entire scandal was a political manoeuvre to destroy him.

The President said he was both profoundly shocked and deeply hurt by the allegations of corruption and called on the media to respect ``every individual's right to the presumption of innocence.'' French media have revealed that there was a well- oiled system of kickbacks put in place during Mr. Chirac's 18- year term as Mayor of Paris. Most of this money, which ran into millions of dollars, the revelations allege, went to fund the Rally for the Republic (RPR) Party. Police have arrested several former close collaborators of Mr. Chirac's, including Mr. Michel Roussin who was his chief aide at Paris City Hall.

Mr. Chirac has also been directly albeit posthumously accused by Jean Claude Mery, a former RPR financier who accused the President of being present when a suitcase full of money was given to party officials. Mery, who died of cancer after serving a prison term for corruption, left behind a video-cassette containing the allegations against the President. Mr. Mery had the cassette recorded ``just in case'' and it was released to the media after his death by the journalist who recorded the dying man's accusations.

``I am not a money-minded man,'' Mr. Chirac said. ``I am not a man who could compromise his honesty. When I see that people claim that I went to the office of one of my colleagues to watch the delivery, by someone with whom I have never had a personal relationship, of a suitcase full of money, I can only say that I am amazed and I am deeply hurt,'' Mr. Chirac said. The communist and socialist parties too are implicated in the same scandal. Media reports claim that during the late 80s and early 90s, a two per cent commission was creamed off all contracts to build schools in the Paris region.

This money was collected by the RPR whose leader, Mr. Chirac was the Mayor of Paris. Some of this money was given to other political parties, including the socialist and communist parties. Mr. Chirac also pointed out that during the period in question there was no proper law on the financing of political parties. The law came into force in 1995. The allegations of which he stands accused by the media took place before the law was passed.

Mr. Roussin, the President's former chief aide may well hold the key to his former boss's political future. He has now been released on bail and insiders say he has not revealed anything to the magistrates who are questioning him. Magistrates have documentary proof that kickbacks to the tune of $80 million were collected from construction firms. But they have so far been unable to demonstrate that Mr. Chirac was a party to the corruption. He has so far claimed that as Mayor of Paris he did not look after party financing.

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Section  : International
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