This is a meaningful warning. The High Authority for the Transparency of Public Life (HATVP) is asking Éléonore Leprettre, new director of communication in the phytosanitary industry, to refrain from any approach to the new Minister of Agriculture Marc Fesneau, of whom she was still recently chief of staff, according to a decision published on Wednesday.
Between October 2018 and May 2022, Éléonore Leprettre was deputy chief of staff then chief of staff to Marc Fesneau, then minister delegate to the Prime Minister, in charge of relations with Parliament. Since May 20, this faithful of the Head of State has been Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty. The opinion of the HATVP had been requested at the end of April, just before Ms Leprettre joined Phytéis, the former Union of Plant Protection Industries (UIPP), which brings together the main pesticide manufacturers in France (Syngenta, Bayer , BASF, Corteva…).
The High Authority indicates that it has no evidence to doubt Mrs Leprettre’s respect for ethical principles, but sets safeguards, recalling that the person concerned “could, in the context of her activity within Phytéis, take steps with the public authorities” and that it is therefore necessary to “supervise” his future professional relations, “in order to prevent any risk of questioning the normal functioning, independence and neutrality of the administration”.
“Refrain, in respect of his private activity, from any approach”
“To this end, Ms. Leprettre must refrain, in respect of her private activity, from any approach, including the representation of interests, with Mr. Marc Fesneau, as long as he is a member of the government, and of the members of her cabinet who were in office at the same time as her and who still hold public office”, enjoins the HATVP.
This reservation is valid “until the expiry of a period of three years following the termination of the employment relationship between Ms. Leprettre” and the persons concerned. Its compliance will be subject to “regular monitoring” by the High Authority, which specifies that it is up to Ms Leprettre “not to use any document or non-public information of which she would have become aware because of her former public functions , without time limit. Ms. Leprettre is one of nine permanent staff at Phytéis and holds the position of Director of Communications and Public Affairs.