A long-simmering scandal of phantom voters and rigged elections is beginning to bubble over in Paris.
Published:
10 June 2000 y., Saturday
A long-simmering scandal of phantom voters and rigged elections is beginning to bubble over in Paris, threatening legal action against Mayor Jean Tiberi and casting shadows over French President Jacques Chirac himself.
Delayed by legal chicanery and the burden caused by the investigation into the car-crash death of Princess Diana, the explosive probes are gathering speed just as Chirac and his Gaullist RPR party are gearing up for crucial elections. Interrogations began on Friday of 15 city officials, among them a top aide to Tiberi, on charges they stuffed electoral rolls in the city's third district with 859 non-resident voters to ensure a conservative victory in the 1989 race for City Hall.
Media muckraking has now turned up a secret police report listing 3,315 phantom voters in the fifth district, the Latin Quarter stronghold of Tiberi, who was Chirac's deputy mayor. Chirac was a municipal councilor from the fifth district.
While no firm link has been established, so many elements point toward Chirac Paris mayor from 1977 to 1995 -- that politicians and the press are increasingly calling for him to take a public stand on the issue.
Chirac, who used City Hall as the springboard for his election as president in 1995 and is aiming for re-election in 2002, enjoys immunity as head of state and has refused to comment on the fraud cases. But Tiberi, who denies any wrongdoing, does not have such immunity and legal experts say he could soon be investigated as well.
Šaltinis:
Le Monde
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
The Champs Elysees rings in the holiday season with a festive lighting display.
more »
Westminster Abbey is confirmed as the venue for the wedding of Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29, 2011.
more »
15,000 pilgrams flock to see official unveiling of the world's tallest statue of Jesus in Poland.
more »
Muslims in Bangladesh go to market to buy livestock to slaughter for the approaching holy Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha.
more »
Ten–year strategy for people with disabilities so they can take part in all aspects of daily life across the EU.
more »
Ahead of the Africa-EU Summit taking place from 29-30 November in Libya, the Commission presents today its proposals for a consolidation of the Africa-EU relations.
more »
Average CO2 emissions from new cars sold in the EU dropped by 5% last year, the biggest annual fall ever recorded, a report published today by the European Commission shows.
more »
Baby koala fights for her life in Australia after being injured by shotgun fire.
more »
Plans to give consumers more control over how personal information is collected and used.
more »
A severe drought pushes river levels in Brazil's Amazon region to record lows, isolating communities and strangling vital boat transport links.
more »