Minister of Labor Olivier Dussopt “contest” the idea of a ” arrangement “ with a water treatment distribution group when he was mayor of Annonay and will “continue to convince of (his) good faith”he said this Saturday, February 4, on France Inter.
“Following an investigation, the prosecution had grouped the facts into five points and I note that the explanations given with my lawyer convinced the prosecution of my good faith since on four of these five points, the prosecution decided that it was necessary to classify by retaining that there was no prosecution for corruption, taking of interest or enrichment “he added.
“All the confidence” of Matignon
But “the prosecution considers that in the context of a public procurement procedure in 2009 (…), there could be an offense of favouritism”said Olivier Dussopt again. “It is an assertion, a thesis, that I dispute and I have only one wish (…), it is to continue to convince and explain how things happened to convince of my good faith”.
The Minister of Labor Olivier Dussopt, against whom an offense of “favoritism” was retained by the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF), “has the full confidence of the Prime Minister”said Matignon on Saturday.
Gifts received by Olivier Dussopt: the minister announces that he is the subject of an accusation of “favouritism” following an investigation by the PNF
According to information from the day before, the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) retained the offense of “favoritism” for a future trial against Olivier Dussopt which will relate to a public contract concluded at the end of the 2000s with the Saur group, a blow for the minister on the front line on pension reform.
A preliminary investigation for illegal taking of interest had been opened against Olivier Dussopt, concerning two lithographs by the painter Gérard Garouste which had been offered to him by a company in 2017, when he was deputy and mayor of Annonay. The investigation was to verify possible facts of ” corruption “ and of “illegal taking of interest”.
Contract signed with the company six months later
In his statement to AFP on Friday evening, the Minister of Labor – on the front line on the disputed pension reform – indicates that the PNF “did his job and carried out an investigation and multiple investigations which brought to light five possible grievances”.
“My oral and written expressions have largely convinced the Public Prosecutor’s Office”who “considers that four out of five of these grievances have no substance and has closed them without further action”. “I am therefore not accused of any corruption”adds the former socialist.
François Hommeril: “The only person responsible for the conflict over pensions will be Emmanuel Macron”
These two lithographs had been offered by a local manager of Saur, a French water treatment group, when a contract was about to be concluded between the town of Annonay (Ardèche) and this company. The contract, negotiated since 2016, was formally signed six months later, on June 1, 2017.
Olivier Dussopt then explained that he had not declared these lithographs to the ethics officer of the National Assembly – as is required for any gift of more than 150 euros – because it “did not know the value” of the two tables. He then returned them.
