As the noose tightens around Ségolène Royal, called into question for two months for possible drifts in its function of ambassador of the poles, the latter wanted to respond point by point to some of the accusations which target it.
The public prosecutor's investigation, which was made public today, was in fact launched two months ago, following allegations ...
Gepostet von Ségolène Royal am Mittwoch, 15. Januar 2020It was on Facebook that the former presidential candidate reacted, who should soon be removed from office. A few hours after the announcement of the opening in November of an investigation by the National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF), concerning the use made of the means made available to her as ambassador of the poles, she insisted that " the necessary rules of rigor have been perfectly respected ”.
Ségolène Royal, who has held this volunteer position since 2017, also claims to have given PNF investigators "all the supporting documents [...] on each of the insinuations made".
However, she made no mention of the reproaches made by the executive regarding the non-respect of her duty of reserve, while she has not been mince words against government policy for several weeks.
Absences from Arctic Council meetings
As of September, several media had denounced the fact that Ségolène Royal had not participated in the meetings of the Arctic Council, which were nevertheless part of the heart of her function.
"Of the 12 meetings initially claimed by my accusers, they could only justify one as I had said following the administrative checks", retorts Ségolène Royal who had already admitted not having participated in certain meetings, because she was "careful with the cost of travel [and] the carbon footprint".
Signing sessions: a "certificate" from Fayard
Another point on which she brings a defense argument: the use of resources and collaborators allocated to the ambassador of the poles, in particular to promote her book.
"Not a single euro from the ministry was used for these dedications," claims Ségolène Royal, who says that a certificate from Fayard editions has been established to justify it. She even attaches the copy to her Facebook post.
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As for the presence of two of his collaborators, paid by the ministry, during his autograph sessions: "Their trips, carried out at their request, and on their quota of days off were entirely taken care of by the house of Fayard edition, supporting evidence ”, replies the former Minister of Ecology. She assures that "this corresponds to four working days per year for one and three and a half working days per year for the other".
What resources allocated?
Several media, including France Inter, claimed that Ségolène Royal had an annual envelope of 100,000 euros for its mission expenses. What she fiercely denies.
According to her, in 2019, the amount of the operating expenses of her ambassador activity supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was 50,207 euros. For the previous year, she puts forward the figure of 41,576 euros. These expenses would include "travel to official meetings in the Arctic" and "scientific and diplomatic working meetings," she said.
In a brief statement published this Wednesday, the PNF only indicated that its investigation relates to the use by Ségolène Royal of the means placed at its disposal as ambassador of the poles.
