Minister Philippe Tabarot “serene” after the investigation opened against him by the national financial prosecutor's office

The Minister of Transport is the target of a preliminary investigation opened by the national financial prosecutor's office. This follows a report from the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life concerning positions held between 2018 and 2020 in Le Cannet (Alpes-Maritimes).

“I have worked effectively with remuneration which is regulated, with the greatest transparency”. The Minister of Transport Philippe Tabarot spoke this Monday, January 13 while he is the target of an investigation in particular for embezzlement of public funds and illegal taking of interests opened by the national financial prosecutor's office.

“I had known for almost two years that there was the PNF (national financial prosecutor's office, Editor's note) which had taken up a certain number of investigations through my HATVP file”, initially declared the minister facing the press.

“This work is effective”

According to the declaration of interests registered on November 30, 2020 and consulted by Le Monde, Philippe Tabarot was director of the GIP from April 2018 to July 2020 and received 82,473 euros net for this position in 2019, or nearly 6,900 euros per month .

Then he was paid 17,997 euros net between August and November 2020, or nearly 4,500 euros per month, as project manager of the Public Interest Group (GIP) for the tourist and cultural development of the town of Le Cannet. At the same time, in 2019, he was paid 15,318 euros as communications manager for this municipality, or 1,276 euros per month. But, according to Le Monde, the structure is loss-making with operating income amounting to only 600,000 euros per year and an operating cost of three million euros per year.

“I worked extensively, I think I worked conscientiously with a certain number of actions that were carried out within the framework of my duties and therefore I have nothing to reproach myself for,” added Philippe Tabarot, claiming to have worked “in complete transparency”.

“This work is effective, it is recognized and it can be proven by hundreds of people so I am very calm about that,” he further assured.

“I am available to anyone”

Claiming to have received remuneration “which corresponds to (his) experience, to (his) level of skills, to (his) level of specific diplomas which fall within a legal framework”, Philippe Tabarot now asks to be able to explain.”

“I am available to anyone to give all the elements of my work which has been provided and which I hope will give a number of results in the structure which I was in charge of,” he said. continued, “you can also imagine that if I had done something so reprehensible, I would not have been chosen to be part of this government. So I am very calm on these questions”.