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| French corruption row deepens as ex-minister struggles to explain sums | French corruption row deepens as ex-minister struggles to explain sums |
| (8 days later) | |
| A former French interior minister and key ally of Nicolas Sarkozy is under growing pressure for a convincing explanation after investigators unearthed a large deposit of money into a bank account and significant cash transactions. | A former French interior minister and key ally of Nicolas Sarkozy is under growing pressure for a convincing explanation after investigators unearthed a large deposit of money into a bank account and significant cash transactions. |
| Claude Guéant's home was searched earlier this year as part of a judicial investigation into claims that the former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi had illegally channelled money to France to fund Sarkozy's 2007 presidential campaign. Guéant, who was director of Sarkozy's campaign before being made the president's chief-of-staff and then interior minister, has denied any illegal Libyan funding. | Claude Guéant's home was searched earlier this year as part of a judicial investigation into claims that the former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi had illegally channelled money to France to fund Sarkozy's 2007 presidential campaign. Guéant, who was director of Sarkozy's campaign before being made the president's chief-of-staff and then interior minister, has denied any illegal Libyan funding. |
| Last week, the satirical weekly Le Canard Enchaîné revealed that police searches had found a transfer of €500,000 (£422,000) from a foreign account into Guéant's personal bank account. Guéant immediately took to the airwaves, saying in several interviews that the cash had not come from Gaddafi, but from the proceeds of a private sale of two paintings. He said he had sold two works – apparently oil paintings of turbulent seascapes, by Dutch artist Andries van Eertvelt – to a Malaysian lawyer. He called it a "banal transaction of works of art", adding: "I have all the receipts." He said he would show all documentation to investigators and criticised the press leak of the investigation. | Last week, the satirical weekly Le Canard Enchaîné revealed that police searches had found a transfer of €500,000 (£422,000) from a foreign account into Guéant's personal bank account. Guéant immediately took to the airwaves, saying in several interviews that the cash had not come from Gaddafi, but from the proceeds of a private sale of two paintings. He said he had sold two works – apparently oil paintings of turbulent seascapes, by Dutch artist Andries van Eertvelt – to a Malaysian lawyer. He called it a "banal transaction of works of art", adding: "I have all the receipts." He said he would show all documentation to investigators and criticised the press leak of the investigation. |
| However, art experts were quick to point out that Van Eertvelt's works did not usually fetch such high sums. Newspapers also reported that Guéant would have had to apply for an export certificate from the culture ministry, but that no application had been made. | However, art experts were quick to point out that Van Eertvelt's works did not usually fetch such high sums. Newspapers also reported that Guéant would have had to apply for an export certificate from the culture ministry, but that no application had been made. |
| Investigators also traced cash payments of between €20,000 and €25,000, sums that are are now causing a political storm. Guéant said the money came from cash bonuses made to senior interior ministry staff, possibly from police expenses. But politicians and the media said such bonuses to ministry staff had long ago been scrapped. Le Canard Enchaîné later published a memo signed by Guéant himself banning them. | Investigators also traced cash payments of between €20,000 and €25,000, sums that are are now causing a political storm. Guéant said the money came from cash bonuses made to senior interior ministry staff, possibly from police expenses. But politicians and the media said such bonuses to ministry staff had long ago been scrapped. Le Canard Enchaîné later published a memo signed by Guéant himself banning them. |
| The interior minister, Manual Valls, has now launched an inquiry into bonus payments to ensure funds were not misused in government offices. | The interior minister, Manual Valls, has now launched an inquiry into bonus payments to ensure funds were not misused in government offices. |
| The Socialist party has also queried Guéant's role in his current activity as a business lawyer and consultant after Le Monde revealed he had travelled abroad, namely to Africa, on business since leaving office. "You say I'm using my contacts book. It's not just that. I'm supporting the dossiers of French businesses abroad," Guéant told Le Monde. He said he was "serving his country" as a business lawyer and denied any conflict of interest. | The Socialist party has also queried Guéant's role in his current activity as a business lawyer and consultant after Le Monde revealed he had travelled abroad, namely to Africa, on business since leaving office. "You say I'm using my contacts book. It's not just that. I'm supporting the dossiers of French businesses abroad," Guéant told Le Monde. He said he was "serving his country" as a business lawyer and denied any conflict of interest. |
| The investigation into illicit campaign funding from Libya continues. Guéant has denied any campaign payments from Gaddafi. | The investigation into illicit campaign funding from Libya continues. Guéant has denied any campaign payments from Gaddafi. |
| He told France Info radio last week: "There was not any kind of Libyan funding in this affair. At no moment did I see Libyan money, or hear anything of it. I'm definitive and categoric on that point." | He told France Info radio last week: "There was not any kind of Libyan funding in this affair. At no moment did I see Libyan money, or hear anything of it. I'm definitive and categoric on that point." |
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