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Prosecutor Requests Case Dismissal for Former French Ministers in Covid-19 Probe

The non-lieu request by Prosecutor General Rémy Heitz reduces the likelihood of a trial for Édouard Philippe, Agnès Buzyn, and Olivier Véran, pending a final decision by the CJR's instruction commission.

Overview

  • The Cour de justice de la République (CJR) investigation into Covid-19 management began in 2020, focusing on alleged endangerment of life and failure to address a disaster.
  • Prosecutor General Rémy Heitz has requested a non-lieu for ex-Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, former Health Minister Agnès Buzyn, and her successor Olivier Véran, citing insufficient evidence to proceed to trial.
  • Investigations determined that numerous government actions to combat the pandemic precluded charges of voluntary omission against Philippe and Véran.
  • Agnès Buzyn’s departure from her ministerial role in February 2020, prior to the first Covid-19 death in France, was noted as a key factor in her exoneration.
  • The CJR’s instruction commission will now decide whether to formally end the case, following the prosecutor's recommendation.