The court rejected Christine Lagarde’s appeal against an earlier order for her to stand trial at the “Cour de Justice de la Republique”, as the special court that tries ministers for crimes in office is called in France.
 
At the time of the public payout for which she is accused, Christine Lagarde was the French Finance minister. Ms. Lagarde’s lawyer said he stands firm the trial will show she is innocent.
 
Lagarde is accused of negligence by improperly signing off on a decision to allow an extremely rare out-of-court arbitration in a dispute between Tapie, a supporter of conservative former president Nicolas Sarkozy, and the state.
 
The arbitration judges that ruled on the Tapie case, not Lagarde’s corruption accusation regarding the Tapie case, initially decided on his favor; however after appeals courts have overthrown that settlement decision. A Paris appeals court has ordered Tapie to reimburse the state, but the businessman has lodged an appeal, which is still pending.
 
IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said that its executive board had been briefed on the matter and continued to have confidence in Lagarde's capacity to carry out her responsibilities.
 
Despite the case looming over her, Lagarde was appointed in January for a second five-year term as managing director of the International Monetary Fund.