Ségolène Royal in the sight of justice - France 24
Ségolène Royal in the viewfinder of justice
Ségolène Royal, who should soon be dismissed from her post as Poles ambassador after her criticisms of the executive, is also in the sights of justice with a preliminary investigation opened into the use made of the means made available to her.
The National Financial Prosecutor's Office announced Wednesday that it had opened a preliminary investigation concerning the use of the means made available to it as ambassador of the poles (an envelope of 100,000 euros and three employees), since his appointment to this position by Emmanuel Macron in 2017.
"Nothing new," said the former socialist leader on Twitter, adding: "Find all the explanations this afternoon on Facebook".
At the end of 2019, a Franceinfo investigation questioned her, claiming that she was using these means for personal purposes, in particular the promotion of one of her books.
"Slanderous and defamatory innuendos," defended Ms. Royal, who has held this volunteer position since 2017. "How do you want me to be able to cheat even when a financial controller monitors the use that is made of money public, "she pleaded with AFP. "It makes no sense," she insisted, "except to want to discredit me because of my political positions."
For several weeks, the former PS presidential candidate has not mince words against government policy, including pension reform, lambasting on this subject "the macho ego of the executive". According to her, there is a "feeling of absolutely real abandonment" among the French, who "no longer understand the coherence of all-out reforms".
Reaction of the interested party: since she has no intention of being silent, it is therefore that the government has already decided on her "dismissal".
- "Fierce" -
"I understand from this letter that the President of the Republic will end my functions at a forthcoming Council of Ministers since I do not intend to give up my freedom of opinion and expression guaranteed by the Constitution" , she warned on Facebook on Tuesday.
She will be "presumably" removed from office during the Council of Ministers on Friday, January 24, AFP learned from a source close to the executive.
"We asked Ms. Royal what her position was on (her) necessary obligation of reserve and the respect she owes to this obligation of reserve. She will no doubt put forward her comments and we will have the opportunity to make a decision, after having read and reflected on his observations, "said Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Wednesday, leaving a government seminar at the Elysée Palace.
"An ambassador is made for diplomacy. In this matter, I think clarity will be useful. Diplomacy is one mission, politics is another," said the head of the ministry. government.
"From a judicial point of view, there is no political settlement of accounts," said Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet.
But according to Christophe Bouillon, deputy for Seine-Maritime (socialists and relatives), close to Mrs. Royal, "it looks like a form of bitter government who is afraid of his freedom of speech". He believes that "the government has invented an XXL reserve duty" for the former minister.
"The original fault is that of the one who appointed her", "we named her to silence her, she does not remain silent," taunted CNews Bruno Retailleau, president of the senators LR.
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