Juppe political career in ruins after corruption ruling

FORMER French Prime Minister Alain Juppe’s political career lay in tatters last night after he was convicted of corruption and banned from public office.

It all but ended his dream of following President Jacques Chirac, his friend and mentor, into the Elysee Palace. Right winger Juppe was found guilty of involvement in a finance scandal in Paris City Hall at the time Chirac was the mayor. He was given a suspended 18-month prison sentence.

A court in Nanterre, near Paris, also declared him ineligible for public office for 10 years, a decision he had said would end his political career.

Lawyers for Juppe, 58, at present the mayor of Bordeaux, immediately said they would appeal. Pale and on the verge of tears, Juppe declined to speak after the decision.

His lawyer, Francis Szpiner, criticised the verdict as "questionable and unjust" and said he would file an appeal a move that would allow Juppe to remain in office for now.

"The court wanted to throw Mr Juppe out of politics," Mr Szpiner said.

The decision was a major blow to Mr Chirac, who would lose a key ally if Juppe disappears from politics. Juppe was also widely considered to be Mr Chirac's pick as successor. In a harshly worded verdict, the court rejected Juppe's request to keep any conviction off his criminal record so he could remain in office. The decision, if upheld, would also forbid him from voting for five years.

The conviction against Juppe stems from a fake job scheme in the 1990s under which Paris City Hall paid the salaries of some personnel of Mr Chirac's political party. Juppe was the city's finance director under then- mayor Mr Chirac. Juppe was also secretary-general of Mr Chirac's party.

"The nature of the acts committed is intolerable to society," the court ruled.