Notizie.it editorial team Topics Covered
The French political scene is shaken by the disclosure of the asset declarations of 36 ministers, a ritual of transparency that shines a spotlight on the management of public and private interests. On Tuesday, the High Authority for Public Transparency (HATVP) made the data public, sparking a series of questions about potential conflicts of interest.
An analysis of the statements
The 36 members of the government, including the Prime Minister, have revealed details of their assets, ranging from bank account balances to property valuations. But what is most striking is the reading of the declarations of interest, which reveal ties to public and private entities, as well as shareholdings in several companies. This overview highlights a worrying element: as many as 15 ministers have had to abstain from certain dossiers to avoid conflicts.
Ministers with millionaire assets
Two figures stand out in the list of the wealthiest: Marc Ferracci, Minister of Industry, and Eric Lombard, Minister of Economy, with fortunes of 23 and 21 million euros respectively. Both fortunes derive from significant corporate holdings. Ferracci, for example, is a shareholder in Icare Finance, while Lombard controls the majority of the company Halmahera. This raises questions: how can they manage their roles without their private interests influencing public decisions?
Interests and investments
Clara Chappaz, Minister Delegate for Digital, has a stock portfolio that includes big names like Microsoft and Amazon. Her statements are worrying, given that the technology giants she interacts with on a daily basis are also part of her investments. In response to questions on this issue, her office referred to HATVP, which emphasizes that members of the government must manage their investments through management mandates.
Boundaries and ethics
Another emblematic case is that of Véronique Louwagie, Minister of SMEs, with stakes in around thirty companies, including CAC 40 giants such as LVMH and TotalEnergies. However, the dividends received do not seem to justify the risks of conflicts of interest that she could face. In contrast, her colleague Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet benefited from more than 25.000 euros from Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, revealing the complexity of the economic landscape in which they operate.
The role of personal relationships
The ministers' personal relationships are no exception. Manuel Valls, Minister for Outre-mer, is forced to refrain from dealings with three companies, as his wife is a key figure in these areas. Similarly, Agnès Pannier-Runacher has had to abstain from consultancy work related to her partner, who runs a major consultancy firm. These ties raise questions about the real independence of government members.
A complex picture
The statements paint a complex and disturbing picture of the links between politics and business. HATVP has no power to ask members of the government to sell their shares at the start of their mandate, which leaves open the question of transparency and accountability. While some ministers continue to maintain links with the business world, the question remains: are they really able to separate their private interests from their public functions?