The French judiciary suspects François Bayrou to have been involved in the improper use of members of parliament by members of parliament for party functions. Investigations against the country's former Minister of Justice have now been launched in this sham industry scandal.
The 68-year-old head of the Center Party MoDem is suspected of subsidies for misappropriation of public funds, as judicial sources said. Previously, he had been interviewed for ten hours.
Several leading MoDem representatives are accused of having paid their employees as EU parliamentarians with EU funds, even though they worked mainly for the party. The judiciary suspects Bayrou of being the main culprit in the mock-employment affair.
Bayrou's defender rejects allegations
Bayrous lawyer Pierre Cornut-Gentille told the news agency AFP that the allegations were unfounded. Bayrou, who has held several ministerial posts, was one of the key supporters of Emmanuel Macron in the presidential campaign, garnering important political electoral votes and helping to win.
When preliminary investigations were initiated in June 2017, Bayrou resigned as Minister of Justice. The European Minister Marielle de Sarnez and Defense Minister Sylvie Goulard gave up their offices after just one month.
Macron had originally nominated Goulard for the new EU Commission under President Ursula von der Leyen. The German connoisseur had been rejected by the European Parliament due to ongoing investigations and a highly-paid consultancy by a large majority.