President Jacques Chirac gains legal protection from a series of corruption scandals.

FRANCE: President Jacques Chirac gained legal protection from a series of corruption scandals yesterday when a 12-member panel appointed by him ruled that the head of state must remain above the law. If approved by a parliament dominated by his political allies, the ruling means Mr Chirac is shielded until 2007 from investigations into alleged corruption while he was Mayor of Paris.

The Independent, December 13, 2002