A French appeals court has ruled that President Jacques Chirac cannot be forced to testify while he is president.
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Mr Jacques Chirac
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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.
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
