FRANCE-IMF-JUSTICE-TRIAL-LAGARDE

Lawyer of IMF chief Christine Lagarde, Patrick Maisonneuve (C) speaks to the press at the Paris courthouse on December 12, 2016 after Lagarde's trial before the Court of Justice of the Republic, a special tribunal used to try ministers. IMF chief Christine Lagarde goes on trial in France on December 12 over a massive state payout to a flamboyant tycoon when she was finance minister in a case that risks tarnishing her stellar career. Lagarde denies the charges of negligence, arguing she was acting "in the state's interest" in approving the payment to Bernard Tapie, the former owner of sportswear giant Adidas. / AFP / Lionel BONAVENTURE (Photo credit should read LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP via Getty Images)