The scene, which quickly went viral, dates back to April 4, 2017. On that day, BFMTV hosted a huge debate bringing together the candidates for the presidential election, an event that took place just days after allegations of fictitious jobs allegedly directed François Fillon, Republican candidate, and his partner Penelope.
Seizing the opportunity, the representative of the NPA, Philippe Poutou, took the opportunity to violently attack the man on the right, accusing him of “using public coffers”. “Oh oh oh, I’m going to sue you,” François Fillon threatened.
“Transparency”
Six years after this sequence, Philippe Poutou, a three-time presidential candidate, is now an opposition municipal councilor with his “Bordeaux en Luttes” list in the Gironde city.
And for several weeks, it has been the turn of this former worker at the Ford factory in Blanquefort to be singled out for a job. According to France 3, since November 2022 he would have recruited his partner as a collaborator of the group, information confirmed by the Bordeaux city council.
With the regional media, Philippe Poutou, now 55, defends himself against any irregularity and evokes “practical reasons”. “We have the right to two part-time group collaborators. And for four months, we have renewed one of the two contracts, that of my partner, ”he said.
“It’s not that easy to have people who have time to help and who meet the criteria. We don’t have a team of 20 people around us, we do it with the means we have”, adds Philippe Poutou.
As if to definitively sweep away the accusations of fictitious employment, the latter ensures that the hiring was done “transparently” and with the approval of “the legal services of the communities.” In addition, this job of 1100 euros net per month would only be temporary.
“I do not judge”
On the side of his political opponents, we navigate between two waters. Still on France 3, Nicolas Forian, councilor for Les Républicains, believes that “as long as it’s legal, I don’t judge”.
Another story from Thomas Cazenave, deputy for the 1st constituency of the Gironde, who recalls the “employment bans on members of his family for parliamentarians or national and local executives”.
“This rule should also apply to groups of elected officials,” he insists.
On May 9, 2022, François Fillon was sentenced on appeal to four years in prison, including one year, by the Paris Court of Appeal, accompanied by a fine of 375,000 euros and a sentence of disqualification of ten years, in the case of dummy jobs. Shortly after the announcement, the former prime minister appealed.
Legal problems that cannot worry Philippe Poutou, since hiring his partner is, let’s remember, legal.
Source: BFM TV
