“We undoubtedly have more duties than others, but we have, at a minimum, the same rights,” argues Olivier Véran, invoking the presumption of innocence to justify their retention in their position.
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Two ministers are currently facing justice. The Minister of Labor, Olivier Dussopt, is suspected of favoritism in a public contract awarded in 2009 when he was mayor of Annonay (Ardèche). His government colleague, Minister of Justice Éric Dupond-Moretti, is on trial before the Court of Justice of the Republic (CJR) for illegal taking of interest. A one-year suspended prison sentence was requested by the public prosecutor against the former tenor of the bar. The decision will be made on Wednesday. “That’s not why the French don’t have confidence in politicians”said Olivier Véran on Tuesday November 28 on franceinfo.
According to the government spokesperson, the fact that two ministers are at the center of legal news has nothing to do with the French’s disenchantment with politicians: “They do not have confidence in politicians because the majority of them consider today that the people who are elected are not elected for the general interest, but for other motivations”, he estimated. Olivier Véran of the government recalled that politicians “are litigants like the others”and in this regard, have “right to the presumption of innocence like others”, he underlined.
To those who are surprised to still see the two ministers in government in the midst of legal turmoil, Olivier Véran responds that the resignation of politicians, in the grip of the law, has not only been good in the past: “You had ministers who had to leave because they were suspected and in the end we said: ‘It’s a shame, you are innocent, your political life is over, we needed you and we had to deprive ourselves of your talent. It’s a shame.”, did he declare. The government official assures that“there are many referrals to the courts and many referrals which result in a complete acquittal of those concerned”. “Justice is serene in its ability to exercise its mandate. We have the same rights and the same duties. We undoubtedly have more duties than others, but we have, at a minimum, the same rights“, he insisted.
