: X9 }+ p9 g+ {( X4 L) r5 M 报道说，一旦总统豁免权被解除，希拉克可能将由于担任巴黎市长期间非法募集资金等问题被调查。为了使自己在退休后避免遭到司法调查，希拉克已任命了三名关键的政治同盟者担任有关职务。其中，前国会发言人德勃雷将出任宪法委员会主席。- T, j U4 c6 K' d& A) ^1 B
5 |( _& r3 Y$ \8 k 2 A+ R* D5 A& l& x. Z ( d! v5 b5 K/ fChirac builds sleaze bolthole 3 [5 y1 l$ g& ^( I! N$ h6 j 7 o+ U+ n8 Q/ Y9 p, z5 nSHOULD he fear prosecution for corruption when he leaves office in May, President Jacques Chirac can always withdraw to his bolthole in Morocco.* C3 h8 n$ ^1 i+ n2 S. y+ {( R1 I
- ] s; V% d% s/ r+ i8 aThe Chiracs, it has emerged, have built a holiday home on 2,500 acres near Marrakesh, a hideaway roughly the size of Richmond Park in London but blessed with better weather. They are understood to be considering the purchase of an extra 1,500 acres. ; R7 H9 { ^7 u1 p+ o ) r3 A! c: P- f3 tThey also have a small chateau in central France and a flat in Paris, but the advantages of spending more time in Morocco are multiple, not least the opportunity to see more of Laurence, the elder Chirac daughter. She suffers from anorexia, has survived various suicide attempts and lives under care for much of the year on the Moroccan coast.0 y: H7 ^* d3 z) J
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What is more, Chirac’s Moroccan hosts are likely to be more than sympathetic over the corruption inquiry that is expected to be launched once his presidential immunity from prosecution has expired. - `- R2 \4 o8 c2 ], T 9 A' o$ M2 V6 f% m' v3 mChirac has been careful to cultivate extremely friendly relations with King Mohammed VI, or “M6” as they call him in France, who always picks up the bill and showers Chirac with gifts whenever he and his wife Bernadette holiday at the Gazelle d’Or, a luxury hotel near Taroudant. ! r+ q+ m f( c+ x: R: [ 7 w. I) K n9 G5 c WPresidential immunity has protected Chirac until now from facing questions about illicit fundraising schemes when he was mayor of Paris and the town hall was awash with cash. / e& s) w" m1 I6 k+ n" i* E& Y ( S% x8 ^) D9 I0 U! nIn what was interpreted as an effort to protect his retirement from judicial prying, the president has appointed three key political allies to judicial posts. Jean-Louis Debré, former speaker of the National Assembly and the president’s leading cheerleader, is to become president of the powerful constitutional council.5 Z9 B/ o- j" `% Z4 w0 K8 _
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The chances that Chirac could face prosecution have increased after judges confirmed that he may be questioned shortly after he leaves the Elysée Palace, Chirac has always denied any wrongdoing but former aides have linked him with dubious political fundraising. One has described seeing Chirac reaching into a chest and pulling out the equivalent of £50,000 in cash to help the reelection effort of a New Caledonian political ally.
