Spectre of legal battles haunts France's Chirac

PARIS, Mar 13 (Reuters) When he steps down in May Jacques Chirac leaves behind the French presidency and its many perks -- notably immunity from prosecution over a string of scandals linked to his previous job as mayor of Paris.

Twelve years as head of state have prevented prosecutors from calling Chirac to account over fake city hall jobs and public contract scams used to illicitly fund his conservatives and other parties during an 18-year stint running the capital.

Chirac has always denied any wrongdoing, denouncing as ''lies, calumny and a manipulation'' a ''testimony beyond the grave'' published in 2000 in which a senior aide confessed that Chirac was at the heart of an illicit funding scandal.

While the president remained untouchable a string of acolytes were convicted of embezzlement, corruption and electoral fraud. Only his position as head of state spared Chirac questioning by a prosecutor over a graft case in 2001.

But come May, instead of a peaceful retirement to the family chateau after four decades in public office, the 74-year-old Chirac could face protracted legal battles when prosecutors are free to renew their dormant investigations.

''Jacques Chirac will become subject to the law just like any other person,'' said Helene Franco, secretary general of the Magistrates' Union, a leftwing body which represents many of the magistrates who investigate crime in France.

''Certainly, with institutions that have a monarchist bent it is a bit of a taboo to attack the king, even if he's an ex-king.

But the law is the law, and the job of judges is to apply it.'' FUNDING SCAMS Chirac faces investigation over fake jobs created for members of the RPR (forerunner to the ruling UMP party) and their allies, a scam that generated tens of millions of francs for party coffers when Chirac ran Paris, court cases have shown.

New evidence, including documents in Chirac's own hand, have been added to case notes that allegedly show he knew of or actively took part in the scams, according to the complainants.

Those so far convicted have escaped with suspended jail terms and fines but, in reality, few expect Chirac to face such a fate even after he leaves office, although he may be embarrassed by court proceedings.

Last month, he appointed the fiercely loyal Jean-Louis Debre as head of the Constitutional Council for a nine-year term, a move commentators said would indirectly protect Chirac's back.

The Council validates laws passed by parliament.

And the appointments of a former aide as public prosecutor in Paris, one of the key jurisdictions that have handled the major graft cases has been seen as politically-motivated.

Centre-right presidential frontrunner Nicolas Sarkozy dismissed suggestions it would be his duty to ensure Chirac faced justice if he won election, telling France Inter radio: ''That's not the role of the president. We have institutions, there's an independent justice system.'' Even the left appears to have little stomach for the sort of impeachment process that so damaged US President Bill Clinton, or the legal hounding of a former head of state.

''I don't think it honours France to go looking for trouble with a president who is no longer in office,'' leading Socialist Dominique Strauss-Kahn told LCI television.

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