France: condemned in court, Alain Griset replaced by Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne in the government
The now ex-French minister Alain Griset, in June 2020 during a meeting at the Élysée, in Paris.
AP - Ludovic Marin
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
The French Minister for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Alain Griset, announced his resignation on Wednesday, December 8, after a six-month suspended prison sentence and a three-year ineligibility sentence suspended for "incomplete declaration or deceitful ”of his patrimonial situation.
His colleague Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne recovers his prerogatives, announced the Elysee in the evening.
Advertising
Read more
Alain Griset
could no longer stay at Bercy.
A condemned minister, but still at his post, it was impossible for Emmanuel Macron just four months from the presidential election.
The government did not want to let the affair interfere with the image of the collective, and give ammunition to the opposition.
The decision fell less than two hours after the conviction, and the Prime Minister "
took note
" of it, saluting "
the spirit of responsibility which founded this decision
", while thanking Mr. Griset "
for the remarkable work accomplished in within the government collective, in particular at the height of the health crisis
”.
The self-employed, artisans, traders, liberal professionals have always been my struggle.
They are the beating heart of the economy and I am proud to have been their minister.
- Alain Griset (@alaingriset) December 8, 2021
The former taxi driver and leader of an employers' organization arrived in Bercy in July 2020. The Covid-19 crisis and support for artisans and nightclubs have kept him busy ever since.
This Wednesday, the Paris Criminal Court condemned him because he had not communicated all of his assets to the High Authority for the transparency of public life: 300,000 euros not declared in total.
At the helm, this former taxi craftsman for 30 years had pleaded "
an awkwardness
" and denied any cheating, without convincing.
Other ministers still in office are in the crosshairs of justice: the Minister of Justice Eric Dupont-Moretti has been indicted for "illegal taking of interests".
Same motive for his colleague from Overseas Sébastien Lecornu, targeted by the national financial prosecutor's office.
Alain Griset, the Minister responsible for SMEs who resigned after being sentenced to six months suspended prison sentence, will be replaced by Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, current Minister Delegate in charge of Tourism, French people living abroad and La Francophonie ( Elysée) #AFP pic.twitter.com/olCAiebuDU
- Agence France-Presse (@afpfr) December 8, 2021
The presidency announced at the end of the afternoon the appointment of
Mr. Lemoyne
to replace his colleague.
The Minister Delegate in charge of Tourism, French people living abroad and La Francophonie will now also be in charge of SMEs with the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire.
Traveling to Vichy, Emmanuel Macron said he was “
very sad
” for Alain Griset, adding that he had done an “
excellent job
” and had “
taken up his responsibilities
” by resigning.
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
France
French politics
Emmanuel Macron
Patrimony