The investigation targeting Alexis Kohler, right arm of Emmanuel Macron, is becoming clearer

The secretary general of the French presidency, Alexis Kohler, during a meeting with union delegates at the Élysée Palace in Paris in June 2020. AP - LUdovic Marin

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3 mins

Indicted for "illegal taking of interest" at the end of September, the secretary general of the Elysée is suspected of having participated as a senior official between 2009 and 2016 in decisions relating to the Italian-Swiss shipowner MSC, directed by his mother's cousins. 

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This possible conflict of interest was revealed by Mediapart in May 2018. After a year of investigation at the PNF closed without further action, the Anticor association obtained the appointment of investigating judges in June 2020.

In this rich investigation of more than fifty hearings and ten searches,

Alexis Kohler

was questioned on September 22 and 23, according to elements of his interrogation of which AFP became aware on Tuesday.

Judges Virginie Tilmont and Nicolas Aubertin accuse him of having " 

participated

 " from 2009 to 2012, as an administrator, in five deliberations of the authorities of STX France (today Chantiers de l'Atlantique) and three of the Grand Port Maritime du Havre ( GPMH), linked to MSC.

Then between 2012 and 2016 in Bercy, under Pierre Moscovici then Emmanuel Macron, for having notably " 

persisted (...) to issue opinions or give strategic orientations relating

 " to files involving MSC.

A potential offense, because the mother of Alexis Kohler is a cousin of Rafaëla Aponte, wife of the founder Gianluigi Aponte.

A " simple

 " but " 

5th degree

 ", "

 remote

" family link 

 , for the person concerned.

Alexis Kohler also recognizes a " 

sincere friendship

 " between his wife and Rafaela Aponte, with annual stays by Sylvie Kohler or their children from 2009 to 2013, but also in 2019, on MSC yachts, often with members of the Aponte clan.

For the judges, this " 

moral interest 

" can " 

compromise the impartiality, independence or objectivity

 " of Alexis Kohler.

Alexis Kohler claims not to have participated in any decision

Before the magistrates, the secretary general of the Élysée indicates from the outset that he “ 

never considered to be in a situation of conflict of interest

 ”.

But paradoxically, he hammers having done everything, " 

from November 2008

 ", to find himself far from the MSC file.

He explains that he did not participate in any decision concerning this flagship client of STX;

having warned of his family ties and asked to leave his mandate as administrator of STX, which his hierarchy would have refused;

having expressed the state's position rather than his own in the board of directors.

► Also to listen: Kohler case: "The Elysée will not be able to remain silent"

When he was at Bercy, he said he organized an " 

informal

 " deportation of the MSC file with Pierre Moscovici (2012-2014) then via "

 a letter

 " with Emmanuel Macron (2014-2016).

The magistrates indicate that they have not found "

 any writing or note from the State Participation Agency, the Treasury or the ministry mentioning the family link with the Aponte family

 " or organizing this shelving from the MSC file between 2010 and 2016.

At the end of the fifteen hours of interrogation, Alexis Kohler concedes a " 

debate on

(his)

degree of formalism

 " to warn of his deportation from the MSC files, but nevertheless says he is " 

shocked and indignant 

" by the " 

questioning

 " of his "

 integrity 

".

He is indicted for "

 illegal taking of interest 

", and assisted witness for "

 passive influence peddling 

".

(

With

AFP)

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