Chirac's Two Fates: Fighter of Poverty, Crime Allegations

PARIS — President Chirac faces two contrasting fates when he hands over the keys to the Elysée palace to his successor, Nicolas Sarkozy, tomorrow — saving the planet or fighting corruption allegations. Mr. Chirac, 74, will step down tomorrow morning after 12 years in office.

After a few days relaxing in Morocco, he will return to put the finishing touches to a new foundation for fighting poverty, protecting the environment and sustainable development, and promoting "dialogue between cultures."

The Jacques Chirac Foundation — run on private funds — will resemble those set up by other former heads of state, Presidents Gorbachev, Clinton, and Mandela. Michel Camdessus, the former head of the International Monetary Fund, will play a leading role.

However, before Mr. Chirac has a chance to champion global causes, he could face questioning by a judge investigating illegal party-funding dating back to his 18 years as mayor of Paris, between 1977 and 1995. Mr. Chirac's presidential immunity expires on June 16, a month after he leaves office.

Judicial sources say it was "most probable" that Mr. Chirac would be questioned as a witness or "assisted witness" — suggesting potential involvement — in the inquiry into the so-called "fake jobs" scam, in which staff at his defunct Gaullist RPR Party had their wages paid by Paris city hall or companies that won contracts.