Jérôme Cahuzac makes a surprise return, ten years after his fall

2023-11-24 15:30:07
Former budget minister Jérôme Cahuzac and former mayor of Monsempron-Libos Guy Gérard, at a market in Monsempron-Libos, November 23, 2023. PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP

He once again strolled through a market, shook hands, had a coffee on a terrace and held a public meeting that same evening. Ten years after his last public appearance, Jérôme Cahuzac is back. Thursday, November 23, the former minister responsible for the budget of François Hollande, from May 2012 to March 2013, was in Monsempron-Libos, a small town adjoining Fumel, in Lot-et-Garonne.

Accompanied by his “friends”, who created a support association at the beginning of October, the former mayor of Villeneuve-sur-Lot and deputy for the third constituency twice returned to his land, where he says he “so many friendships and memories”. Friday October 20, the village hall in Pujols, a village near Villeneuve-sur-Lot, was packed with 300 of his supporters, invited to meet “Jérôme”. The next morning, he took a trip to the Villeneuve-sur-Lot market. A first, according to several witnesses.

“He’s a very good man, he has the right to come back”comments Monique Gruelles, former socialist section secretary in Pujols. “Reflections, ideas, exchanges, proposals on the economic, social, cultural and political development of the territory” : these are the watchwords of the “association of friends of Jérôme Cahuzac”. A whole new program? In 2013, suspected of tax fraud after articles published in Mediapart, he resigned from his post as minister and was then excluded from the Socialist Party (PS), before giving up on regaining his mandate as a deputy. In 2018, he was sentenced for tax evasion to two years in prison – sentence modified by wearing an electronic bracelet – and two years suspended prison sentence, five years of ineligibility and a fine of 300,000 euros.

“My return is not indecent”

Since then, the possible return to politics of the former cosmetic surgeon has fueled many reactions. The mayor (Les Républicains) of Fumel, Jean-Louis Costes, finds “pitiful this fascination of the territory’s elected officials, and in particular those on the left, for an individual who represents everything they are supposed to hate and fight”he wrote on X. “I don’t think he’s doing this for nothing.”estimates the former deputy (Renaissance) for the constituency Olivier Damaisin, who had “found Jérôme Cahuzac in great shape”during the first meeting.

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Thursday, after a morning spent on the Monsempron-Libos market, accompanied by the former mayor of the commune Guy Gérard (PS), Mr. Cahuzac held a public meeting at the end of the afternoon, in front of around 200 people . ” Who would’ve believed that ? »he said at the start of his speech, standing, microphone in hand, black suit and gray scarf. “You can’t imagine the good that can do!” », said with a smile the one who, at 71 years old, has retained his confidence and his clear speech. A speech placed under the sign of morality. “I read a lot of philosophy and in particular Immanuel Kant during these years. I think for myself and I agree with myself. This return is therefore not indecent”he continued.

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