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Prosecutor Receives Three Referrals Over Ministers’ Undeclared Assets

Three formal signalements have been transmitted requesting preliminary inquiries into potential omissions in the wealth declarations for Culture Minister Rachida Dati; Economy Minister Éric Lombard.

Overview

  • On June 30, three signalements were lodged at the Paris prosecutor’s office, combining filings by activist Raymond Avrillier and Senator Rémi Féraud under Article 40 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
  • Rachida Dati is accused of omitting nineteen pieces of jewelry valued at €420,000 from her HATVP declaration and €299,000 in undeclared honoraires from GDF Suez dating to her time as a Member of the European Parliament.
  • Éric Lombard faces claims that he undervalued a Morbihan house and an apartment in his asset declaration, allegations that the Ministry of Economy has formally rejected.
  • Both ministers deny any wrongdoing, with Dati’s lawyers asserting she never acted as GDF Suez’s lawyer and had nothing to regularize, and Lombard’s office declining to comment on the referrals.
  • The Paris prosecutor has yet to decide on opening formal investigations, underscoring heightened scrutiny of public officials’ wealth disclosures since post-Cahuzac reforms.