Pave: Ex-Jack, The Adventure Continues V

Le jour 115 de Sarko

Such is the metaleptic association of Then-Jack, Now Ex-Jack with corruption, that it is enough to be named "Chirac" to attract suspicions of illegality.

CHIRAC DAUGHTER UNDER INVESTIGATION IN CORRUPTION CASE

PARIS September 6, 2007 (AFP) - Claude Chirac, the daughter of former French president Jacques Chirac, is under investigation over allegations of corruption during her father's tenure as Paris mayor, judicial officials said Wednesday.

... According to the weekly news magazine Le Point, investigators are trying to establish why there was no record of Claude having been employed by City Hall while working for her father between 1989 and 1993.

"The president's daughter appears to have had no contract with the city, nor to have been paid by it. It is precisely the informal nature of her duties that appears to have awakened the current suspicions," said Le Point.

"She had an office and a computer, took part in meetings, prepared trips but is not listed as a city hall employee," wrote the magazine. Claude was employed at the time by a small private company, now defunct, it added.

Claude continued to advise Chirac throughout his 12-year presidency until he stood down in May.

... "She was never paid by Paris City Hall, so she can hardly be accused of illegal use of funds," [an associate of Claude Chirac, who asked not to be named] said.

Maybe so. Maybe no. All that has been established is Mlle. Chirac was off the books, not that she wasn't paid. There were innumerable channels for payouts under the Then-Jack mayoralty. As to why she is not on the books? Perhaps to avoid the limits of her pay-grade. Perhaps to smooth down the extravagant mayoral budget.

What we do know is that advisors do not subsist wholly on air, that professionals as a rule do not forgo salaries for years on end, and that businesses cannot run without payment for services.

Knowing Then-Jack, Now Ex-Jack as we do, any anomaly, any opacity, any omission is suspect.

For other posts on the afterlife of Ex-Jack, see here, here, here, here and here.

PFFT (What is this?): All in the family 2½ | Rayonnement français 0