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Allegations of Corruption Swirl Against Sarkozy Ally Allegations of Corruption Swirl Against Sarkozy Ally
(40 minutes later)
PARIS — A small tempest of allegations has gathered in recent days over one of the closest allies of former President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is himself under investigation on charges he manipulated France’s richest woman for donations to his 2007 campaign, charges he denies.PARIS — A small tempest of allegations has gathered in recent days over one of the closest allies of former President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is himself under investigation on charges he manipulated France’s richest woman for donations to his 2007 campaign, charges he denies.
The ally, Claude Guéant, a onetime interior minister, was also the shadowy operative at the center of Mr. Sarkozy’s presidency and political rise. The scandal revolves around a large bank transfer, two Flemish paintings, an unidentified Malaysian lawyer, tens of thousands of dollars in cash payments and Mr. Guéant’s sometimes contradictory efforts to explain the matter away.The ally, Claude Guéant, a onetime interior minister, was also the shadowy operative at the center of Mr. Sarkozy’s presidency and political rise. The scandal revolves around a large bank transfer, two Flemish paintings, an unidentified Malaysian lawyer, tens of thousands of dollars in cash payments and Mr. Guéant’s sometimes contradictory efforts to explain the matter away.
The revelations come at an awkward moment for France’s political class. The charges against Mr. Sarkozy stirred shock on the right and quiet exultation on the left when they were announced in March. Last month, after resigning as budget minister, Jérôme Cahuzac admitted to keeping an undeclared Swiss bank account for years. The revelations come at an awkward moment for France’s political class. The charges against Mr. Sarkozy — who has denied accepting campaign money from Liliane Bettencourt, 90, the heiress to the L’Oréal fortune — stirred shock on the right and quiet exultation on the left when they were announced in March. Last month, after resigning as budget minister, Jérôme Cahuzac admitted to keeping an undeclared Swiss bank account for years.
President François Hollande, a Socialist, has pledged more transparency in French politics, especially concerning financial assets, but his approval ratings are at record lows. Yet politicians on both the left and the right have said little about Mr. Guéant’s case, perhaps, analysts suggest, because it may reveal unsavory practices in which they too have been involved.President François Hollande, a Socialist, has pledged more transparency in French politics, especially concerning financial assets, but his approval ratings are at record lows. Yet politicians on both the left and the right have said little about Mr. Guéant’s case, perhaps, analysts suggest, because it may reveal unsavory practices in which they too have been involved.
On Feb. 27, magistrates investigating still other accusations of electoral fraud — claims that Mr. Sarkozy’s 2007 campaign received illegal funding from Libya — seized evidence at Mr. Guéant’s home and office in Paris. Earlier that day, magistrates investigating another case linked to Mr. Sarkozy had conducted visits of their own, according to Le Canard enchaîné, the satirical, investigative weekly newspaper that first reported the searches last week.On Feb. 27, magistrates investigating still other accusations of electoral fraud — claims that Mr. Sarkozy’s 2007 campaign received illegal funding from Libya — seized evidence at Mr. Guéant’s home and office in Paris. Earlier that day, magistrates investigating another case linked to Mr. Sarkozy had conducted visits of their own, according to Le Canard enchaîné, the satirical, investigative weekly newspaper that first reported the searches last week.
Investigators came upon records of a $650,000 transfer to Mr. Guéant from a foreign bank account in 2008, as well as receipts for about $35,000 in what Mr. Guéant has characterized as home supplies, all paid in cash.Investigators came upon records of a $650,000 transfer to Mr. Guéant from a foreign bank account in 2008, as well as receipts for about $35,000 in what Mr. Guéant has characterized as home supplies, all paid in cash.
Mr. Guéant directed the national police force before becoming a top aide to Mr. Sarkozy, who was then interior minister, in 2002. He managed Mr. Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign and later was his presidential chief of staff, and then interior minister.Mr. Guéant directed the national police force before becoming a top aide to Mr. Sarkozy, who was then interior minister, in 2002. He managed Mr. Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign and later was his presidential chief of staff, and then interior minister.
The $650,000 transfer, Mr. Guéant has said, came from a Malaysian lawyer to whom he sold two paintings by Andries van Eertvelt, a minor 17th-century painter known for blustery maritime scenes. The news media have pointed out that van Eertvelt’s works seldom fetch more than about $20,000. The $650,000 transfer, Mr. Guéant has said, came from a Malaysian lawyer to whom he sold two paintings by Andries van Eertvelt, a minor 17th-century artist known for blustery maritime scenes. His works seldom fetch more than about $20,000.
Mr. Guéant has denied suggestions the artwork might have been a cover for money laundering. “I have never laundered anything,” he said in a television interview last week. “I don’t know how to do it.” Mr. Guéant has denied suggestions the artwork might have been a cover for money laundering. “I have never laundered anything,” he said in a television interview last week. “I don’t know how to do it.” His professions of innocence have not convinced his critics or the news media.
His professions of innocence have not convinced his critics or the news media.
His explanations have been “abracadabra-ish,” said Érik Emptaz, a top editor at Le Canard enchaîné. To find a buyer willing to spend $650,000 for the van Eertvelts, Mr. Emptaz said, Mr. Guéant would have to be “the world’s best painting salesman.”His explanations have been “abracadabra-ish,” said Érik Emptaz, a top editor at Le Canard enchaîné. To find a buyer willing to spend $650,000 for the van Eertvelts, Mr. Emptaz said, Mr. Guéant would have to be “the world’s best painting salesman.”
As for the bills paid in cash, Mr. Guéant initially suggested the money had come from cash bonuses received during his time as Mr. Sarkozy’s cabinet director at the Interior Ministry.As for the bills paid in cash, Mr. Guéant initially suggested the money had come from cash bonuses received during his time as Mr. Sarkozy’s cabinet director at the Interior Ministry.
Government ministries did indeed once distribute such bonuses, without declaring them to tax authorities, but the practice was officially halted in 2001.Government ministries did indeed once distribute such bonuses, without declaring them to tax authorities, but the practice was officially halted in 2001.
Mr. Guéant later said the money in fact came from special bonuses at the Interior Ministry, cash payouts drawn from funds reserved for use in police investigations. On Tuesday, however, Le Canard enchaîné reported that Mr. Guéant had himself put a halt to such bonuses in 1998, while serving as police director. Mr. Guéant later said the money in fact came from special bonuses at the Interior Ministry, cash payouts drawn from funds reserved for use in police investigations. On Tuesday, however, Le Canard enchaîné reported that Mr. Guéant had put a halt to such bonuses in 1998 as police director.
Mr. Guéant has not offered any further explanation.Mr. Guéant has not offered any further explanation.
Luc Rouban, a political scientist at the Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris, said Mr. Guéant’s case “throws light on the real practice of power,” exposing the “little arrangements among friends” to which French officials are accustomed.Luc Rouban, a political scientist at the Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris, said Mr. Guéant’s case “throws light on the real practice of power,” exposing the “little arrangements among friends” to which French officials are accustomed.