A French appeals court has ruled that President Jacques Chirac cannot be forced to testify while he is president.
|
|
Mr Jacques Chirac
|
Mr Chirac is being investigated for alleged wrongdoing while he was the Mayor of Paris.
The court said, however, he can be called as a simple witness provided he agrees to testify.
The ruling means that Mr Chirac cannot be placed under official investigation or called as a material witness during his term of office, which runs until elections in April.
READ MORE
Mr Chirac has consistently refused to give evidence before a judge, citing his constitutional position, and magistrates in three separate investigations have declared themselves incompetent to call him as a witness.
AFP