The High Authority for the Transparency of Public Life (HATVP) is asking Eléonore Leprettre, new director of communication in the phytosanitary industry, to refrain from any approach to the new Minister of Agriculture Marc Fesneau, of whom she was chief of staff, according to a decision published on Wednesday.
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Between October 2018 and May 2022, Eléonore Leprettre was deputy chief of staff then chief of staff to Marc Fesneau, then minister delegate to the prime minister, in charge of relations with Parliament.
Since May 20, Marc Fesneau has been Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.
The opinion of the HATVP had been requested at the end of April, just before Eléonore Leprettre joined Phytéis, the former Union of Plant Protection Industries (UIPP), which brings together the main pesticide manufacturers in France (Syngenta, Bayer , BASF, Corteva, etc.).
A reservation having a "three-year period"
The High Authority indicates that it has no evidence to cast doubt on the respect of ethical principles by Eléonore Leprettre, but lays down safeguards, recalling that the person concerned "
could, in the context of her activity within Phytéis, take steps with the public authorities
" and that it is therefore necessary to "
supervise
" his future professional relations, "
in order to prevent any risk of questioning the normal functioning, independence and neutrality of the administration
".
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"
To this end, Eléonore Leprettre must refrain, in respect of her private activity, from any approach, including the representation of interests, with Marc Fesneau, as long as he is a member of the government, and members of her cabinet who were in office at the same time as her and who still hold public office
”, enjoins the HATVP.
This reservation is valid “
until the expiry of a period of three years following the termination of the employment relationship between Eléonore Leprettre
” and the persons concerned.
Its compliance will be subject
to "regular monitoring
" by the High Authority, which specifies that it is up to Eléonore Leprettre "
not to use any non-public document or information of which it would have had knowledge because of its former public functions, without limit of duration
”.
Eléonore Leprettre is one of nine permanent staff at Phytéis and holds the position of Director of Communications and Public Affairs.
