Paris (AFP)
Ségolène Royal, targeted by a preliminary inquiry into the use made of the means made available to her, assured Thursday that she had already left her post as ambassador of the poles, and wanted to keep her "freedom of speech".
"I left this post because I was fired from her," said Ms. Royal on RTL. "To the extent that I have been targeted for several months" and having seen "the government's injunction to remain silent (...), I preferred to keep my freedom of speech given what is happening in the country", she added.
The national financial prosecutor's office announced Wednesday that it had opened a preliminary investigation in November concerning the use of the means made available to Ms. Royal as ambassador of the poles since his appointment to this position by Emmanuel Macron in 2017.
The former minister's repeated criticisms of government policy also earned her a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on January 7, reminding her of her "duty of reserve" and urging her to put an end to her criticisms, under hardly be dismissed from her position as ambassador of the poles.
The letter (published by Mrs. Royal on her Facebook page) specified that her case could be examined in council of the ministers on January 24, date confirmed to AFP by a source close to the executive.
"Diplomacy is one mission, politics is another," Prime Minister Edouard Philippe warned on Wednesday.
"I ask for a minimum of respect," said the 2017 presidential runner-up on RTL, who added that she had "requested a dialogue" after receiving the ministerial letter. "I was not answered (...) I am told to leave, I am leaving, I have no intention of hanging on".
Is she ready to enter the presidential campaign for 2022? "It is far too early," she replied.
"The Macron / Le Pen face-to-face is a big problem. We don't see any other choice emerging. I will contribute to the creation of a third way. I will support the one who is best placed. If c "it's me, by that time, I'll be ready," she added on BFMTV.
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