Jérôme Cahuzac shoved the first day of his trial – Le Figaro

VIDEOS – Monday, prosecutors had scathing towards the former minister at the opening of his trial for tax evasion and money laundering. This could be deferred pending consideration of two priority issues of constitutionality.

Jérôme Cahuzac is it expected a such a drubbing in the first day of his trial? The former minister, arrived at the courthouse alone, with more than half an hour ahead, knew he would face a media throng – it was indecent. He had to think about what attitude he would adopt against the President Ghaleh-Marzban and his two assessors – it appeared relaxed, attentive, not casual

He welcomed without animosity his ex-wife Patricia, also continued. and sits down. His lawyers argue two priority issues of constitutionality (QPC). Basically, My Veil and Michel maintain that their client has already been punished enough by the tax authorities – the couple had to pay a total of 2.5 million euros of recovery and penalties – for incurring now, before a criminal, 7 years in prison and 2 million euro fine

“Today, Mr Cahuzac said.” Damn other French taxpayers, but not me! ‘ “

the hearing is held in the own torpor that kind of exposure, when the prosecutor spoke, about 16 hours. The national financial parquet (PNF) is represented by its chief, the prosecutor Eliane Houlette in person whose presence is obviously not just ceremonial, and the deputy prosecutor, Jean-Marc Toublanc. It was he who rises. And dry attack, “Mr. Cahuzac told you in effect: “Certainly, I did not follow the law, but I paid. My criminal conviction would be unconstitutional. “When he was budget minister, he had never touched this risk. Instead he called for a strengthening of the prosecution of tax evasion. And today, he said: “Damn the French other taxpayers, but not me! ‘”

On his chair, warned the cash, but stiffened. His face flushes. Behind him, Mr. Veil fulminates. But Mr. Toublanc has not finished. It lists now the penalties incurred by Jerome Cahuzac – imprisonment, fines, confiscation of property, deprivation of civic, civil and family, to a suspension of driving license, which here seems derisory. For him, it is clear, it was not considered at that level by the tax authorities: “What a strange conception of that money has the same price as freedom, as well as putting on a pedestal. These are not our values, financial national parquet. For us, money is not worth our most precious freedoms. “Of course, he asked the court not to send the QPC and try the accused.

The usefulness of the national financial parquet Question

me Veil replica. “I was horrified,” he says in a flat voice. It is ironic about the threat of suspension of driving license, but falls into the opposite extreme recalling the abolition of the death penalty, as if condemning a tax concealer was as serious as cut in half alive.

Whatever happens, Jérôme Cahuzac will be judged in principle. Looks like a tax inspector, the question is just on the plate.

Behind this skirmish, one glimpses the real issue of the trial. For the PNF, the creation, in response to the scandal Cahuzac, had given rise to a controversy over its legitimacy, it is of conviction of the accused – and, incidentally, his wife, a banker and an intermediary – to set itself up as a destroyer fraud scheme and a fraudster minister. If prevention is seen stripped by the Constitutional Council of its more showy nugget, it is certain that the utility of the PNF would again pretext sneers.

The court will say Wednesday if he passes the QPC the Court of Cassation, legal filter before any shipment to the constitutional Council. Note that they relate to the offense of tax evasion, money laundering or not the false declaration of assets. Whatever happens, Jérôme Cahuzac will be judged in principle. Looks like a tax inspector, the question is just on the plate.