2023-07-25 18:56:03
The High Authority has decided. The marital bond between the new Minister of Health and Marguerite Cazeneuve, current number two of Health Insurance, does not present a conflict of interest, according to the HATVP. The High Authority for the Transparency of Public Life has just spoken and shares the opinion of the government, which saw no problem.
“The college of the High Authority considers that the function of the minister’s spouse is not, in itself, likely to constitute a situation of conflict of interest, insofar as the latter would not have to know of his professional situation”, estimates the High Authority in its opinion.
“Therefore, the deportation decree already requested by the Minister and providing that he will withdraw from any decision directly or indirectly concerning the professional situation of his spouse meets the requirements for the prevention of conflicts of interest”, she adds.
“Same public interest”
The Cnam, a public establishment which employs 2,500 employees, is placed under the supervision of the Ministry of Health. At the top of the state, the question of a possible conflict of interest had already been decided. Prior to the appointment of Aurélien Rousseau, the general secretariat of the government had sent a legal note to recall the rules.
It concluded that “subject to the assessment that the High Authority may make for the transparency of public life, the requirements of impartiality which apply to members of the government in no way preclude the spouse of the deputy director of the Cnam being Minister of Health”. No problem, therefore, provided that he “steps away from any decision that would concern the personal situation of his spouse” within the organization. An opinion which was therefore confirmed by the HATVP on Tuesday.
Monday, Aurélien Rousseau had himself refuted any possibility of conflict of interest with his spouse, stressing that they both pursued “the same public interest”, that of “ensuring access to care for our fellow citizens”.
In its decision, the High Authority stresses in particular that it is the director general of the Cnam, and he alone, who “represents the establishment, including with the ministers responsible”, including that of Health. “Like the other directors of the establishment”, Marguerite Cazeneuve “is placed under the authority of the general manager and has no delegation of power”, indicates the High Authority.
#RousseauCazeneuve #couple #conflict #interest #HATVP