Jospin volunteers to give evidence in kickback inquiry
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The French Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin, agreed yesterday to give evidence to a judge investigating illegal financing of the Socialist Party in the early 1990s.
Although the inquiry does not concern Mr Jospin personally, the fact that his name has been linked to the investigation could be embarrassing for him five months before the French presidential elections. Sources within the Socialist Party suggest the exercise was politically motivated and intended to distract attention from allegations of financial wrong-doing against President Jacques Chirac.
The two men, although they share power at present, are expected to be the leading candidates in the two-round presidential election next April and May. In any event, Mr Jospin seems to be using his witness summons to cast Mr Chirac in an unfavourable light.
The President, sheltering behind the immunity given by his office, has refused to co-operate with investigations into corruption at the Paris town hall while he was Mayor between 1977 and 1995.
Mr Jospin, who has no such immunity, let it be known he would ask his Cabinet for permission to speak to the judge.
The affair concerns a former Socialist MP, Jean-Pierre Destrade, and kickbacks allegedly given to the Socialist Party in 1988-92 by supermarket chains in return for planning permission for hypermarkets. Henri Emmanuelli, a former treasurer of the Socialist Party already convicted of similar offences, has also been placed under formal investigation.
The investigation, conducted by Judge Thierry Pons, based in Pau, south-west France, began nearly seven years ago. Mr Jospin's name has never been connected with the case until now. He was first secretary of the Socialist Party in the 1970s and early 1980s but not at the time the kickbacks were allegedly paid.
For that reason, Socialist Party officials are suspicious of Judge Pons' motives in asking to interview Mr Jospin during the run-up to presidential and parliamentary elections.
Mr Jospin's colleague and close friend, the former finance minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn, was cleared by a Paris court yesterday of allegations of forgery that forced his resignation two years ago. This opens the way for his return to government, if the Socialists remain in power next year.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments