For the first time since the broadcast of a report from the M 6 channel on alleged illegal dinners organized by art collector Pierre-Jean Chalençon, the latter spoke publicly on BFMTV on Tuesday, declaring that he “ does not organize (know) parties, no dinners, nothing at all, at the Palais Vivienne or elsewhere ”.
“I am a good citizen,” he added.
Asked about the alleged events of April 1, the businessman replied that it was "the biggest April Fools in the last ten years."
“I didn't think he would work at this point,” said Pierre-Jean Chalençon.
🔴 Pierre-Jean Chalençon on illegal dinners: "It's a huge April fools" https://t.co/5F0AS7YzUH pic.twitter.com/kVhoit6Tjh
- BFMTV (@BFMTV) April 6, 2021
The Napoleon I enthusiast indicated that he had planned to organize “events at the Palais Vivienne and elsewhere, on Napoleon” in 2020 but that due to the pandemic “everything was stopped”.
To anticipate the reopening of museums and the bicentenary of the death of the emperor on May 5, Pierre-Jean Chalençon affirmed that with his teams “[they are] in the process of organizing for companies, individuals, visits From the Palais Vivienne.
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Clandestine dinners: five minutes to understand the controversy around Pierre-Jean Chalençon
“We have been organizing this for a number of weeks with my staff.
Last week (April 1, Editor's note) it was a kind of zero emission, ”he argued, referring to the clandestine dinners pointed out by M 6.
Affirming that he had been "trapped" by the editorial staff of M 6, Pierre-Jean Chalençon asserted that there had been "a home invasion" and that he had been "harassed on the telephone" since the broadcast of this report .
“They tried to get me dirty because I have a big mouth,” he added.
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Regarding the presence of set tables and a starred chef, Christophe Leroy, at this event, the art collector indicated that he and his teams had "organized it like a real evening" in order to take photos for the hurry.
"We did a simulation," he said.
In M 6's document, food was visible on some plates.
Pierre-Jean Chalençon sought to clear his customs claiming that he had "not had a kitchen for four months.
I do not see how I could have made parties ”.
"It's an absurd story," said the art collector.
" A storm in a glass of water "
The one who considers himself "the guardian of the temple of Napoleon" indicated that the alleged participation of members of government in these clandestine dinners was a "joke", adding thus: "You think ministers have nothing to do with come to Pierre-Jean Chalençon?
It's a storm in a glass of water ”.
Pierre-Jean Chalençon had initially said that ministers had taken part in these clandestine dinners, before pleading “humor”.
"When the latter specifies that he dines with ministers in underground restaurants, he brilliantly handles the meaning of the absurd ...", his lawyer Jean-Luc Chetboun indicated on Sunday evening, in a press release sent to the 'AFP.
"To my knowledge, there was no participation of ministers in clandestine dinners", assured this Tuesday the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, on Europe 1. "It is obvious that if a member of the government was attending a dinner [...] he would not be up to the task, ”he added.
Invited this morning on France Info, the Deputy Minister in charge of Citizenship, Marlène Schiappa, affirmed that she knew from "a reliable and confirmed source that there was indeed an invitation" for Gabriel Attal and that his services had it. "Firmly refused, saying that there were sanitary measures".
🗣️ Clandestine dinners: "I know for a sure source that there was indeed an invitation and that Gabriel Attal firmly refused it, saying that there were sanitary measures", affirms Marlène Schiappa.
Follow the live 👇https: //t.co/dKmnTlr2By pic.twitter.com/HHY1CYLEd1
- franceinfo (@franceinfo) April 6, 2021
A criminal investigation into these clandestine dinners was opened Sunday by the Paris prosecutor, Rémy Heitz.