2023-11-22 13:39:46
The clouds are gathering above Anne Hidalgo. Since the revelations surrounding her trip to French Polynesia, part of which was of a private nature, the mayor of Paris has been in the middle of a political… and now legal storm. A complaint was filed by the AC Corruption association a few days ago, the public prosecutor has also been contacted. The head of the Paris Renaissance federation, the presidential party, is in turn demanding accountability. He himself wrote to the public prosecutor this Wednesday morning.
The “Tahitigate” affair, Anne Hidalgo’s trip to the South Pacific, continues to cause a stir. A complaint was filed by the AC Corruption association, but also a report to the national financial prosecutor’s office by an elected official whose name we do not know at this stage. It’s you ?
SYLVAIN MAILLARD. No, it’s not me. But this morning I contacted the public prosecutor on the basis of article 40 (which requires elected officials or public agents to report a crime or offense when they become aware of it). The mayor of Paris spent 60,000 euros on a private trip to Polynesia, paid for by Parisians. We cannot let this pass.
However, you have remained discreet since the controversy broke out three weeks ago…
I have not communicated until now because I waited for his return, I gave him the benefit of the doubt, I let him explain himself to the elected representatives of the Paris Council last week. But honestly, we can clearly see how it is not transparent, with explanations that do not live up to the emotion of what we all felt. When we come to compare a trip to Auschwitz with a trip to Tahiti, we really have no argument left.
On what specific point were you not convinced by Anne Hidalgo’s defense?
It is very simple. When we travel, we budget for that. We don’t go on vacation at the expense of the taxpayer when we’re on a business trip. I am also an elected official and yet I have never taken advantage of a professional trip to add private days. What also shocks me is that she makes an Instagram post pretending that she is in Paris when she is there, why not communicate if this trip is a work trip? So I ask another question: there was this trip, but were there others?
The ethics commission of the City of Paris, however, after internal investigation, considered that she had not violated the rules imposed by elected officials during this trip. Did the commission do its job poorly?
The commission that cleared Madame Hidalgo is composed exclusively of members appointed by her. Honestly, one can doubt his impartiality. And more generally: when a Parisian goes on vacation, he pays. So there is no reason why it should be different for Ms. Hidalgo. Even more so at a time when it has increased the property tax of Parisians by 50%. This doesn’t happen. This is all completely baroque.
Are you asking him to reimburse the amounts?
It’s not up to me to investigate. The prosecutor is contacted. But she already needs to explain very clearly what happened. Parisians want to understand, and for her to take responsibility and take responsibility. It’s essential.
But she doesn’t see where the problem lies, nor her deputies…
We cannot let such an event pass, which further distracts our citizens from political life. It is an episode which contributes to losing confidence in elected officials. This demonstrates Anne Hidalgo’s level of disconnection. We have an above-ground executive.
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