Is this the new soap opera of the summer in Macronie? Summoned this Friday before the judges of the Court of Justice of the Republic, the Keeper of the Seals, Eric Dupond-Moretti, was indicted in the investigation into possible conflicts of interest with his former activities as a lawyer. He is suspected of having settled accounts by ordering administrative inquiries on several magistrates, including three from the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF).
“His explanations were unfortunately not enough to reverse this decision taken before the hearing. We will obviously now challenge this indictment, “assured Me Ingrain, one of his lawyers, who will file” a motion for nullity “. The Minister of Justice did not comment on leaving the CJR. His future in government remains uncertain today. Even if within the executive, we try to unite.
“It’s not after all the Cahuzac affair”
In the wake of this announcement, the Prime Minister, Jean Castex, has thus renewed “all his confidence”. And the minister was personally defended by Emmanuel Macron, as of Wednesday, during the Council of Ministers. “Justice is an authority, not a power. I will not let justice become a power “, would have declared the head of state, according to
BFMTV. The famous “Balladur jurisprudence”, which wants a member of the government indicted to resign, would therefore not be applied here.
“We must not rush. I am against the automaticity of a resignation in the event of an indictment. Dupond-Moretti is still presumed innocent. It is not after all the Cahuzac affair, and if it is then “pschitt”, we will regret his departure “, justifies a deputy of the majority. “The rule of an automatic resignation is the easiest, but it is irrelevant. It is a political decision, so there has to be a political analysis on the part of the president and the prime minister. Especially since we can wonder about the motivations behind the investigation, ”adds Roland Lescure, deputy for Paris and spokesperson for En Marche.
“We are not going to force him to resign because judges want to pay for it”
This is also the argument taken over the last few days by the marchers and the entourage of the Minister: Eric Dupond-Moretti would be the victim of a political step and would pay there his enmities with the magistrates, which the interested parties deny. “I have a visceral attachment to the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary, but this matter troubles me. One of the unions that filed a complaint
[l’USM] had spoken of “declaration of war” during his appointment. So the magistrates may not have the best intentions, ”blows a member of the MoDem.
Macronists take as proof the resignations of deputies Naïma Moutchou (LREM) and Antoine Savignat (LR) from the CJR this week so as not to “take part in this semblance of justice”. “We are in an absurd story around the minister, whom we searched for fifteen hours, until going to open old coffers with the grinder … It is disproportionate. We are not going to force a minister to resign for a settling of scores, because judges want to pay Dupond-Moretti. I am convinced that he will have public opinion on his side, ”wants to believe François Patriat, the boss of LREM senators.
“There is a political risk, but let’s assume it”
“The Ogre of the North” has continued to proclaim his serenity in the face of the accusations. But the indictment of a serving Minister of the Seals is unprecedented. And the pressure may increase a little more in the coming days. This Friday, the boss of the PS, Olivier Faure, has already mocked, on Franceinfo, the “variable” speech of “Doctor Manu and Mister Macron” on the resignation of indicted ministers. Because the candidate
d’en Marche committed to this in 2017, just like Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, until his departure in July 2020. Entangled in business, several members of the government had to leave him even before their indictment, like François Bayrou in the summer of 2017.
A year after his arrival in the government, the star of Eric Dupond-Moretti seems in any case to have paled. Its thunderous campaign in Hauts-de-France for the regional ones failed flatly and its “errors” of tax declaration darkened a little more this painful beginning of summer. Will his indictment end up weakening him, while he must lead to the re-entry of the States General of justice? “Maybe, but he must hold on, because the presumption of innocence applies and there are essential reforms to be carried out. We have gone too far in the media court or generalized suspicion, “sweeps the LREM deputy Sacha Houlié. “There is a political risk, but let’s assume it,” adds Roland Lescure. “It is up to him to show by his actions that he is not affected. There will be a little pressure, but the boy’s shoulders are quite broad ”.