Former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, recently implicated in the press for financial links with Qatar or Saudi Arabia, defended himself on Thursday from advising "any foreign power", assuring that the clients of his companies advice had “no” impact on his public statements.
“I give geopolitical advice on the evolution of the world, and it is absolutely open speech which contains no element of influence or conflict of interest,” declared the former diplomat on BFMTV, during a tense exchange with journalist Apolline de Malherbe, who questioned him about the origin of his income.
The accounts of his company have not been published since 2008
“The activity of my company is completely linked to two French consulting companies, two French companies to which I provide advice on the geopolitical level in France for abroad,” assured the former Prime Minister.
For the rest my activities are voluntary, most of them in the field of art and culture.”
And added: “So there is nothing to suspect, nothing to imply.
»
“By definition, when you have consulting activities, you do not give the names of people,” he insisted, while according to an investigation by Le Monde, he has not published the accounts of his company since 2008 , preferring to pay a fine.
“I would be totally ready to do it in a confidential setting,” he conceded, certifying that “there is no foreign power behind it.”
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During its last declaration, Villepin International posted 4.6 million euros in turnover and 2.6 million euros in profits in the year of its creation.
“What would be the business plan today to defend those who are dying in Gaza?
", he questioned, affirming that "most Arab states make fun of or have no say on these subjects", in response to Apolline de Malherbe who asked him if this interview was part of a "business plan ".
“Who owns your channel?”
»
Dominique de Villepin criticized the BFMTV journalist for being under influence herself and also denounced the channel's “untruthful comments” against her.
“Who owns your channel?”
Is she under pressure?
Are there any political or diplomatic directives?
», he listed.
The 24-hour news channel belongs to Altice, the group of Franco-Israeli billionaire Patrick Drahi.
Dominique de Villepin, 70, made history in 2003 by bringing France's refusal to armed intervention in Iraq to the UN.
In France, he is one of the voices defending the cause of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, "an open-air prison", calling since October to take into account the views of those in the world who do not see things as they do. Westerners and advocating for a two-state political solution.