| Series Title | European Voice |
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| Series Details | Vol.8, No.22, 6.6.02, p4 |
| Publication Date | 06/06/2002 |
| Content Type | News |
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Date: 06/06/02 FRANCE'S new Europe minister, who is due to appear in court later this month charged with money-laundering, says he will strenuously deny the charge. Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres (right) is also accused of using his position as a government advisor to influence policy on behalf of his political party, the right-wing Parti Republicain. A court hearing on his application to stop the inquiry will be held on 12 June, which falls between the two rounds of voting in the French parliamentary elections. A spokesman for Donnedieu de Vabres said, however, that he will vigorously contest the charges. 'It isn't clear yet whether he will appear in court on this occasion but he denies the charge,' the aide said. The minister is the most prominent of 115 candidates in this month's elections who are under criminal investigation. This is particularly galling for President Jacques Chirac, who helped choose Donnedieu de Vabres. He was given the post ahead of Nicole Fontaine, the former European Parliament president, who was tipped to get it. Chirac has been bedevilled by scandals of his own, including allegations that he took huge kickbacks while mayor of Paris. By not demanding Donnedieu de Vabres's resignation, which would be politically humiliating, Chirac broke a custom established for ten years whereby ministers step down the moment they come under judicial investigation. France's new Europe minister, Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, has been accused of money-laundering. |
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| Countries / Regions | France |
