Chirac's

At the start of the trial, on Monday, a lawyer for Rémy Chardon, a codefendant in the trial who was Mr. Chirac's chief of staff at the time, submitted a constitutional claim to the court.

Chirac Trial Suspended David Gauthier-Villars 2011

But analysts say it boosts Mr. Chirac's chances of escaping conviction.

Paris Accepts Millions to Drop Chirac Case 2010

Judges can accept Mr. Chirac's request, order additional medical examination, adjourn the trial until the defendant recovers, or dismiss the case.

Chirac Says Too Ill to Attend Trial David Gauthier-Villars 2011

In March, the trial was suspended when Rémy Chardon, a codefendant in the trial who had been Mr. Chirac's chief of staff at the time, submitted a constitutional claim to the court.

Chirac Says Too Ill to Attend Trial David Gauthier-Villars 2011

Although he left office in 2007 with low approval ratings, Mr. Chirac's popularity has boomed in recent months.

Chirac Says Too Ill to Attend Trial David Gauthier-Villars 2011

"It's up to the court president to make a decision," said Jean Veil , one of Mr. Chirac's lawyers.

Chirac Says Too Ill to Attend Trial David Gauthier-Villars 2011

No Western government involved in Africa will openly admit it, but each and every one of them shares wholeheartedly Chirac's view that "Africa is not ready for democracy" and that "multi-partyism" is a "kind of luxury," that is unaffordable by a country like the Ivory Coast or any other African country for that matter.

Alemayehu G. Mariam: Why Do Things Always Fall Apart in Africa? Alemayehu G. Mariam 2011

Chirac's 'discretion'The French public knew that Jacques Chirac had married Bernadette Chodron de Courcel in 1956.

How Dominique Strauss-Kahn's arrest awoke a dormant anger in the heart of France's women 2011

French people still look back on certain moments of Mr. Chirac's presidency with pride—notably his stand in 2003 against the war in Iraq and images of him shouting with joy after France won the 1998 World Cup.

Chirac Says Too Ill to Attend Trial David Gauthier-Villars 2011

The case could harm Mr. Chirac's carefully orchestrated recent attempts to endear himself to the French population by recasting himself as a national grandfather figure.

Chirac Says Too Ill to Attend Trial David Gauthier-Villars 2011