Embarrassing revelations for Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher, at the heart of a possible conflict of interest

Agnès Pannier-Runacher’s declaration of interest under close surveillance. The High Authority for the Transparency of Public Life (HATVP) opened an investigation on Tuesday into the Minister for Energy Transition, after revelations about shares held by her children in a company based on funds partly domiciled in tax havens. .

Agnès Pannier-Runacher denounces “false and slanderous allegations”. “So there is nothing hidden, nothing hidden,” she said, believing that this subject has no connection with her function as minister. Asked by Disclose, the politician refers to the origin of the funds to her father, ex-director of the oil company Perenco, who set up the company Arjunem in 2016, as part of a transmission of assets, bringing about 1 .2 million euros of shares.

A company subject to French tax authorities, assures the minister

Four of her grandchildren are partners, including the children of Agnès Pannier-Runacher who were minors at the time, and for whom the minister signed as legal representative.

The Minister also notes that she has “not to declare this structure”, since the law does not oblige her to declare the participations of her children. The minister added that Arjunem was “subject to French taxation”. The financial products are deposited in a bank in Luxembourg, according to the minister.

According to Disclose, this heritage comes from hedge funds, based in Delaware, Ireland and Guernsey, and in which Perenco also held investments.