An investigation targets Ségolène Royal for its costs as ambassador of the poles

The National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF) opened Wednesday, January 15, a preliminary investigation against the former Minister Ségolène Royal about the use of the means made available to him as ambassador of the poles, revealed the cell investigation from Franceinfo. The PNF confirmed the information to AFP.

The former socialist candidate for the 2007 presidential election, who has held this volunteer position since September 2017, has been accused of having used the envelope of 100,000 euros made available to her by the Quai d 'Orsay and the Ministry of the Ecological Transition for its ambassadorial fees.

Its three collaborators, paid by the ministry, would have carried out tasks unrelated to its mission in the service of the poles. According to Franceinfo, her personal assistant was seen in the provinces on book signing sessions or her advisor at the Beauval zoo or on an inauguration of a carpool area in Ain.

"Defamatory innuendos" and "false testimony"

The current judicial investigation aims to verify the elements brought to light by the press, said the prosecution. Ségolène Royal had reacted to the Franceinfo article by denouncing a "pseudo investigation" containing "defamatory innuendos" and "false testimony", all published by a "reporter" journalist. "My employees work 35 hours in the service of the mission entrusted to me, in the service of the poles, and on the time available they sometimes accompany me on the long course", she said on France Inter on November 20.

This announcement coincides with the "dismissal" of the former Minister of Ecology, which she herself reported
Tuesday on his Facebook page. Appointed in 2017 by the government, the latter reproached him for his positions and reminded him, in a letter, of his "duty of reserve". His dismissal will be formalized at the Council of Ministers on Friday, January 24.

Le Canard Enchaîné reports information of which the exact content is as follows. In fact, I am not called because the ...

With AFP and Reuters

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