While he is soon to be tried for complicity in moral harassment, Bruno Lasserre has resigned from the presidency of the Estates General of Information for “personal and family” reasons, the Élysée announced on Thursday.
He will be replaced by the boss of Arte, Bruno Patino.
On November 30, a Parisian investigating judge ordered a criminal trial against Bruno Lasserre, former vice-president of the Council of State, for facts dating back to the time when he headed the Competition Authority (2004- 2016).
A campaign promise from Emmanuel Macron
Bruno Lasserre resigned “for strictly personal and family reasons, which require him to have more time at a time when the Estates General assumes a constant commitment,” for their part indicated the Estates General of the information in a press release.
The 70-year-old senior civil servant has chaired their independent steering committee since their launch in October.
Campaign promise from the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, in 2022, these States General will last until the summer.
Based on expert working groups and public consultations, these Estates General must result in proposals for legislative modifications, as well as recommendations to players in the media and press sector.
“Toxic and disqualifying” management
While Bruno Lasserre must be tried for complicity in moral harassment, his former subordinate at the Competition Authority, Fabien Zivy, will be tried for moral harassment.
On March 27, 2014, an Authority executive, Alain Mouzon, 46, was found dead in his apartment.
Previously, he had denounced multiple cases of professional burnout within the body and had himself increased the number of sick leaves and warning signs.
Appointed in 2011 as head of the Authority's legal department, Fabien Zivy saw his management described as "toxic and disqualifying", in particular towards Alain Mouzon, according to an audit rendered on April 15, 2013. In his order, the investigating judge referred to “the manifest and lasting desire of Bruno Lasserre” to make possible “the moral harassment of which Fabien Zivy is accused”.
In a letter addressed to Council of State staff when the prosecution was announced in 2019, Bruno Lasserre denied any involvement.
During the investigation, Fabien Zivy had rejected the harassment but had mentioned a “story of explosion, of collective burn-out”.
He presented himself as a “transmission belt” and a “shock absorber” for Bruno Lasserre.