Another French Minister in Hot Water
The spotlight is once more on French politics with the trial of Minister of Labor Olivier Dussopt, hot on the heels of his Justice Minister counterpart. The 45-year-old minister finds himself accused of favoring a water supply company in the awarding of a public contract in 2009 while serving as a parliamentarian and mayor in Annonay, France.
Dussopt firmly denies the accusations and expressed his intentions to clear his name in court. He pointed out that four of the original five charges against him have been dropped. However, the remaining allegation of favoritism remains, with investigators suggesting he shared confidential information about the tender and altered the tender criteria to favor the company he is charged with favoring.
Gifts and Custom Order
Investigations revealed that Dussopt received two works of art as gifts from the accused company in 2017, just before a new contract was signed between the municipality and the water supplier. Two artworks worth peanuts, some might say, but their significance in the context of the allegations has drawn attention nonetheless.
A house search uncovered minutes from a 2009 conversation showing Dussopt sharing confidential information with the company boss about the tender. Additionally, an email was discovered showing the minister asking his employees to adjust the tender's criteria. It looks like the ghost of 2009 has finally come back to haunt him.
A Concealed Incident
If convicted, Dussopt faces a potential two-year prison sentence. Officials claim the affair was deliberately concealed, which has further complicated the case for the minister. However, his defense team is expected to argue that the incident is time-barred.
This isn't Macron's First Rodeo
President Macron's promise of an "exemplary republic" has taken a hit with this trial (and its equally shocking predecessor). Dupond-Moretti, Macron's minster for justice, stands accused of attempting to have senior judicial officials and former opponents sanctioned, a claim Dupond-Moretti denies. He faces a one-year suspended prison sentence, max, if the special court for government members convicts him (expected on November 29).
Meanwhile, Joël Guerriau, a government senator has also made headlines for slipping ecstasy powder into a member of parliament's champagne, with the intention of making her sexually submissive.
A Faltering Reputation
Macron drew criticism for his lenient attitude towards accused ministers in the early days of his first term. The ongoing trials and allegations of corruption have cast a shadow over the reputation of Macron's cabinet, and public trust in the civil service is at an all-time low.
Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index highlights a significant decline in France's integrity in recent years, underscoring the reality that corruption is on the rise in the French political scene.
Additional Context:
According to investigations, Olivier Dussopt served his time and was fined €15,000 ($16,478), with €10,000 ($11,053) suspended, after being convicted by the Paris Court of Appeal for favoritism related to the awarding of a public contract in 2009. The conviction has further contributed to the perception of corruption within Macron's cabinet, which has been plagued by allegations of corruption since Macron's first election in 2017, with 26 ministers facing political and legal scandals.
Sources:
[www.ntv.de]
