Paris (AFP)

The national financial prosecutor's office has opened a preliminary investigation concerning the use made by Ségolène Royal of the means made available to her as ambassador of the poles, he announced on Wednesday to AFP, confirming information from Franceinfo.

"Nothing new," reacted on Twitter the former socialist presidential candidate in 2007, inviting to find "all the explanations this afternoon" on her Facebook page.

Ségolène Royal, who has held this volunteer position since 2017, had been questioned by Franceinfo for having used for personal purposes - in particular the promotion of one of her books - the envelope made available to her for her expenses. ambassador.

Responsible for international negotiations for the Arctic and Antarctic poles, it has an envelope of 100,000 euros per year and three collaborators, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After the Franceinfo investigation pinning her, she reacted by denouncing "innuendos" according to her "slanderous and defamatory".

"Ségolène Royal, in the exercise of her missions, has nothing to reproach herself for," he said on BFMTV.

The former Minister of the Environment is in an ejection seat, after having repeatedly struck down the government.

Tuesday, Ms. Royal had herself estimated to have been dismissed, after having received a letter from the two general secretaries of the Quai d'Orsay urging her to silence her critics and considering "terminating" her duties.

"A forthcoming Council of Ministers could examine the draft decree ending your duties as ambassador," added the letter from which the Chained Duck reproduced extracts and which Ms. Royal herself published on Tuesday on her Facebook page.

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.

Mrs. Royal has already taken note of it in her message posted on Tuesday: "I understand by this letter that the President of the Republic will end my functions at a next Council of Ministers since I do not intend to give up my freedom of opinion and expression guaranteed by the Constitution ".

© 2020 AFP