The senior official was indicted for “illegal taking of interests” on Monday because of his links with the Italian-Swiss shipowner MSC.
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Emmanuel Macron judged, Friday, October 7, “completely legitimate” the maintenance of his right arm Alexis Kohler as secretary general of the Elysée despite his indictment for “illegal taking of interests”, which he described as simple “procedural decision”.
“So he has all my confidence”said the Head of State to the press in Prague (Czech Republic), at the end of a European summit where 43 leaders from across the continent met for two days. He also considered that the referral to trial of the Minister of Justice, Eric Dupond-Moretti, was “a very special case” which did not justify a dismissal either.
When he was a candidate for a first five-year term in 2017, Emmanuel Macron said that, “in principle”a minister had to “leave the government” in case of indictment. But “principle” has since not always been strictly applied, and the head of state is now strongly criticized by the opposition for keeping Alexis Kohler and Eric Dupond-Moretti. Asked about a reversal of doctrine, the president seemed to explain that these were exceptions to the rule. “As for my secretary general, it will not have escaped you that he is not a minister”he replied, believing that this doctrine therefore did not apply in his case.
A Judicial investigation had been opened on June 23, 2020 concerning Alexis Kohler for “illegal taking of interests”, “influence peddling” and “failure to declare to the High Authority for the transparency of public life” (HATVP), after a complaint from the Anticor association, in connection with the MSC shipowner. The secretary general of the Elysée approved in 2010 and 2011 contracts concerning the Italian-Swiss shipowner, founded and run by cousins of his mother. Alexis Kohler was then a member of the supervisory board and had not reported these family ties to MSC.