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French budget minister Jérôme Cahuzac faces tax fraud allegations French budget minister Jérôme Cahuzac faces tax fraud allegations
(35 minutes later)
The French budget minister is to be investigated over allegations of tax fraud – the crime that he is leading a crackdown against, the prosecutors' office has confirmed.The French budget minister is to be investigated over allegations of tax fraud – the crime that he is leading a crackdown against, the prosecutors' office has confirmed.
The preliminary inquiry, which comes just as the Socialist government leads a drive to stop tax evasion, will seek to establish whether Jérôme Cahuzac once had a secret bank account in Switzerland hidden from the French authorities. The preliminary inquiry, which comes as the Socialist government clamps down on tax evasion, will seek to establish whether Jérôme Cahuzac once had a secret bank account in Switzerland hidden from the French authorities.
Cahuzac, 60, a former MP and one-time cardiologist who became a plastic surgeon specialising in hair transplants, is in charge of French tax policy and has been leading the government's efforts to cut the deficit. Cahuzac, 60, a former MP and cardiologist who became a plastic surgeon specialising in hair transplants, is in charge of French tax policy and has been leading the government's efforts to cut the deficit.
He has repeatedly denied allegations made by the investigative website Mediapart that he held an undisclosed account at the Swiss bank UBS for 20 years until 2010. The site alleged that he travelled to Switzerland to close the Geneva-based account and transfer money to Singapore just before he was made head of the parliamentary finance commission in February 2010. He has repeatedly denied allegations made by the investigative website Mediapart that he held an undisclosed account at the Swiss bank UBS for 20 years until 2010. The site alleged he travelled to Switzerland to close the Geneva-based account and transfer money to Singapore just before he was made head of the parliamentary finance commission in February 2010.
Mediapart published a recording in which Cahuzac is alleged to be talking to his wealth manager about his embarrassment over the Swiss bank account in 2000. In the recording, a voice said to be Cahuzac's says: "What bothers me is that I still have an account open with UBS … UBS is not necessarily the most hidden of banks."Mediapart published a recording in which Cahuzac is alleged to be talking to his wealth manager about his embarrassment over the Swiss bank account in 2000. In the recording, a voice said to be Cahuzac's says: "What bothers me is that I still have an account open with UBS … UBS is not necessarily the most hidden of banks."
Cahuzac, who denied the reports and said the voice in the recording was not his, is suing Mediapart for defamation. His office welcomed the preliminary investigation, saying it would allow him to prove his "complete innocence of the absurd allegations that he has been subjected to".Cahuzac, who denied the reports and said the voice in the recording was not his, is suing Mediapart for defamation. His office welcomed the preliminary investigation, saying it would allow him to prove his "complete innocence of the absurd allegations that he has been subjected to".
François Hollande promised during his presidential campaign that his government would be beyond reproach, so the state prosecutor's preliminary investigation is an embarrassment, especially as the government has increased income tax on the richest. It has also criticised wealthy individuals, such as the actor Gérard Depardieu, who have sought to shift their tax base abroad.François Hollande promised during his presidential campaign that his government would be beyond reproach, so the state prosecutor's preliminary investigation is an embarrassment, especially as the government has increased income tax on the richest. It has also criticised wealthy individuals, such as the actor Gérard Depardieu, who have sought to shift their tax base abroad.
The prosecutor's office said it had no option but to open an inquiry immediately given the sensitivity of the allegations against Cahuzac and the time it would take to investigate them.The prosecutor's office said it had no option but to open an inquiry immediately given the sensitivity of the allegations against Cahuzac and the time it would take to investigate them.
The Élysée Palace and prime minister's office gave support to Cahuzac when Mediapart first published the allegations last month.The Élysée Palace and prime minister's office gave support to Cahuzac when Mediapart first published the allegations last month.
The editor of Mediapart, Edwy Plenel, told the iTele TV channel that he stood by the story. He said: "There is one question we need to ask our government, prime minister and president. Can the budget minister, the head of the tax administration, carry out his work properly and legitimately when there is enough evidence to open a preliminary investigation?"The editor of Mediapart, Edwy Plenel, told the iTele TV channel that he stood by the story. He said: "There is one question we need to ask our government, prime minister and president. Can the budget minister, the head of the tax administration, carry out his work properly and legitimately when there is enough evidence to open a preliminary investigation?"