The business aiming at the right-hand man of Emmanuel Macron took a new turn Wednesday

The general secretary of the Elysium is aimed by an investigation into a possible conflict of interests between his stations in the civil service and his links with the ship–owner italo–Switzerland MSC.

Today searches were led to the French ministry of the Economy within the framework of the investigation into suspicions of conflict of interests aiming at the right–hand man of president Emmanuel Macron, Alexis Kohler, one learned from source close to the file. Mr. Kohler worked there between 2012 and 2016.

Investigation into this business, open “following publication of several press articles”, aims at “checking if the rules relating to the setting availability of the public agents indeed were complied with”, the financial national parquet floor in an official statement indicated Monday.

These articles, initiated by the Mediapart site, denounce the close family ties and professionals existing between Mr. Kohler and the ship–owner, who played a crucial role in the discussions on the future of the shipyards of Saint–Nazaire during last years.

This group, rested and directed by the cousins of the mother of Alexis Kohler, is also a very important customer of STX France, the shipyards of Saint–Nazaire, in the west of France.

World number two of goods transport by boats container ships, the company of the family Lands diversified in cruisings. For this reason, it became the principal customer – and certain years, single – the last large shipyards French, located at Saint–Nazaire (Loire–Atlantique). Historical building sites whose State did everything, since years, to avoid disappearance initially, then the passage under complete.

After having sat at the board of directors of STX France between 2010 and 2012 as a representative of the State, Mr. Kohler wanted, twice, to join MSC, each time after having exerted functions within ministerial cabinets with the ministry for the Economy.

The second period referred to relates to the years when he was assistant editor of the cabinet of the Minister of Economy and finances Pierre Moscovici, between May 2012 and March 2014, then when he was director of that of Emmanuel Macron, between August 2014 and August 2016. The building site of Saint–Nazaire was then the subject of many negotiations.

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Gabriel MIHAI

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