Weakened at a key moment. The Minister of Labor Olivier Dussopt, in the front line of the pension reform projecthe is weakened by suspicions of “favouritism” when he was mayor of Annonay.
The former socialist announced on Friday that the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) had, in fact, retained the crime of “favoritism” in the case of two works of art received as gifts in 2017learned BFMTV, confirming information from media part.
The politician, who led the consultations on pensions in autumn and must defend the emblematic reform of the second five-year period before the National Assembly starting Monday, told France Inter this Saturday morning that he had “only one wish”: “to continue convincing and explain how things happened to convince in good faith”.
“The government has become a criminal court”
Even so, this case comes at the worst moment for the government: the pension marathon is starting in Parliament and two new days of mobilization by the inter-union are scheduled, next Tuesday and Saturday, against the lowering of the retirement age of 62 to 64 years. old.
“The information has just come in, but we are starting to get used to this government, launched this Saturday morning, on BFMTV, by Sabrina Sebaihi, EELV deputy for Hauts-de-Seine. This morning, I thought to myself that it had turned into a criminal court, given the number of defendants there are… A politician who is accused of having shown favoritism (…) this should not be minimized”.
For PS Philippe Brun, a guest of our antenna, Olivier Dussopt “was already weakened by this massive opposition of the people, with two million people on the streets this week.” “There is now this matter, which weakens him morally and disables him in my opinion to make this reform and carry it out,” he added, before specifying:
“It is difficult to ask people to make an effort, when you yourself are not beyond reproach. (…) It discredits his action. (…) From our point of view, the rule to be applied is the withdrawal of this minister”, he believes.
“Because public morality means something. When you are accused of favoritism, I think you have to step away from your political duties, ”she adds.
The unions are in the same line as the opposition. For Bertrand Dumont, from the Solidaires CGT union of the RATP, “this matter should shock everyone.” According to him, the Minister of Labor must leave “because he cannot continue carrying out this reform.”
“Don’t Condemn It Beforehand”
Despite this matter, Olivier Dussopt “has the full confidence of the prime minister,” Matignon told Agence France-Presse (AFP). And these suspicions of “favouritism” should not have any impact on the smooth running of the debates on pension reform.
“He is not charged. (…) A politician has the same rights, the same duties, as any French citizen. No more, no less. Do not condemn him in advance,” Nadia Hai launched this Saturday morning on BFMTV, Deputy of the Renaissance for Yvelines, vice-president of the finance committee, of the deputy Sabrina Sebaihi.
“I have confidence in his convictions. I know you will be on the bench defending the pension reform project. He will be ready and available to answer all his questions, and I hope they will only be related to the reform project,” he said. he went on, before concluding: “Probably the time for justice will come, or not, but for now let’s focus on the essentials and respond to the problems of the French.”
At the heart of the government system, Olivier Dussopt is also at the forefront, with the Minister of the Interior, of the immigration bill, and in the coming months at the helm of a bill dedicated to full employment.
Source: BFM TV
