A former French prime minister and a leading centrist contender for the 2027 presidential elections, Edouard Philippe, is now facing a new legal complaint.
A civil servant accused Philippe of alleged influence peddling in Le Havre, the northern city where he serves as mayor. Philippe has denied all allegations.
The complaint was filed on Friday by a former senior official from the local authority, who has chosen to remain anonymous.
Her lawyer, Jerome Karsenti, informed AFP, Le Monde newspaper, and France Inter broadcaster that the complaint targets Philippe and two other individuals, alleging bullying, favouritism, and illegal taking of interest.
The plaintiff was granted whistleblower status by France’s rights ombudswoman in January, a designation Philippe has rejected.
This new complaint follows an initial one filed in September 2023, which concerned the establishment of a digital innovation hub in Le Havre. That earlier complaint led financial prosecutors to open a preliminary probe later that year, investigating Philippe and two other city officials for suspected influence peddling, favouritism, embezzlement of public funds, and bullying.
As part of that ongoing investigation, Le Havre city hall was searched by French police in April 2024.
The plaintiff expressed concern to AFP and the media outlets that her case was not progressing, with her lawyer fearing that the financial prosecutor’s office might be hesitant to investigate a “probable future presidential candidate.”
She hopes this new complaint will prompt the appointment of an independent investigating magistrate, allowing her to be kept informed of the investigation’s progress as a civil party.
Philippe, who served as prime minister from 2017 to 2020, has vehemently rejected all accusations. He stated to AFP, “The plaintiff is pursuing her sad vendetta, which has nothing to do with the cry of a whistleblower but rather relates to the unhappiness of a civil servant whose contract was not renewed.”
Philippe leads Horizons, a centrist movement allied with President Emmanuel Macron’s faction.
He has publicly declared his intention to run for president in 2027, with polls indicating he is the strongest centrist candidate against the far right.
