Buisson and Giacometti heard: return on the business of surveys of the Elysee – Liberation

Revoilà the survey of surveys of the Elysee Palace, Nicolas Sarkozy era. Two former aides of the former president, Patrick Buisson and Pierre Giacometti, were heard Wednesday morning by investigators from the Brigade of repression of Economic Crimes (OERD), as revealed by Europe 1. The judge Serge Tournaire instruction continuing its investigations on possible acts of “favoritism” and “embezzlement” and of complicity involving contracts concluded between the Elysee and then nine pollsters, whose Publifact and Giacometti- companies Peron. Update on this issue, which has dragged on for six years

The case of the Elysée surveys. What it is

The controversy began in 2009, but the case covers the five years from 2007 to 2012. It is the Court of Auditors, the first, was surprised by a signed agreement the 1 ^st June 2007, a month after the victory of Nicolas Sarkozy, the Elysee between the firm and Patrick Buisson, “a cost of around 1.5 million euros.” In their report, the Court of controllers fall that “none of the possibilities offered by the procurement code public has been applied “ This poll is not the only opinion entrusted to advise the President, Maurrassian his right arm. for three years, the only Patrick Buisson has reached over 3 million Publifact euros through its company for its activities “advice, reporting, comments on the evolution of public opinion”. Hooked to polls, Nicolas Sarkozy has ordered hundreds. For 10 million euros, according to calculations of the policemen OERD.

The advisory opinion billed at the Elysee are they clean?

These are of their first order conditions that attract the attention of the judges. Some contracts are signed without a tender and without competition. Others are paid a high price for the Elysee but are identical to those published in the press, leaving suspect a double billing.

Also, if some surveys test opinion on the point of policy before filing a bill, other curious topics relate to personal or strategic. These are the views of the relationship of French President Carla Bruni, the pregnancy of Rachida Dati or potential competitors of the Head of State to the 2012 presidential election … In addition to Bush, Giacometti benefits as the pipe. Pollster recovered more than 2.5 million euros between 2008 and 2012, through its Giacometti-Péron society.

What is the investigation?

Before the two beneficiaries contracts billed to the Elysée, is the bodyguard of Nicolas Sarkozy who had been heard early June, including Claude Gueant and Xavier Musca who have succeeded as Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic, and Emmanuelle Cute, former chief of staff. It was she who signed the contracts at issue with Patrick Buisson, including Convention in June 2007. No indictment had been issued after the custody.

In April 2013 , the office and the Paris home of Patrick Buisson had already been searched. On Wednesday, he visited “the pole to be heard before the judge on the status of assisted witness” according to his lawyer, M ^th Gilles-William Goldnadel . Pierre Giacometti, he was taken into custody in the premises of the OERD.

In this case, Anticor had complained in February 2010. But the investigation could not begin until late 2012 After a long legal battle over the immunity of the head of state and, by implication, of his advisers: the Court of Appeal of Paris had feared that the judges date back to the president and undermined its status special legal. Subsequently, investigations were extended to contracts opinion commissioned by the Government Fillon, thanks to a second complaint from the association of fight against corruption. Contracts that leave too glimpse suspicions of favoritism and misappropriation of public funds.