Former prime minister denies role in job scheme

Souchard ~ The Associated Press

NANTERRE, France -- A former prime minister defended himself Tuesday in a corruption trial, denying knowledge of a fake jobs scheme that allegedly operated at Paris City Hall when President Jacques Chirac was mayor.

The testimony from Alain Juppe, who served as Chirac's prime minister from 1995-97, was a high point in the trial of 27 people that began a week ago.

All are accused of a role in an alleged fake jobs scheme aimed at filling the coffers of Chirac's conservative political party, known as the Rally for the Republic, or RPR. Juppe held the No. 2 post in the party under Chirac and served as deputy mayor for finance at City Hall.

The RPR has since been dissolved, replaced by the Union for a Popular Majority, or UMP.

Prosecutors allege city funds were used to pay members of the RPR during part of the 18-year period when Chirac was mayor of Paris and that Juppe knew of the payments. Chirac was mayor until he was elected president in 1995.

"If there was a lack of vigilance, I take responsibility," Juppe, rigid and clear-voiced, told the court.

Juppe, 58, seen as a presidential hopeful in 2007 elections, could face up to five years in prison, a fine and a five-year ban from elected office if convicted.

Under the alleged scheme, private companies paid the salaries of some RPR personnel, while City Hall paid for others. Juppe is being tried only in connection with the salaries of seven people paid by City Hall.

Placed under investigation in 1998, Juppe has claimed that he only learned of the scheme in 1993 and asked that it be stopped.

Before 1993, "I didn't know there were colleagues who might have been taken care of by outside entities," Juppe told the court.

Juppe, now mayor of Bordeaux, was secretary-general of the RPR during the time in question. Chirac was party president.