Edouard Philippe: the mayor of Le Havre is the victim of a complaint about favoritism and misappropriation of interests

It is a complaint that could derail the plans of a possible candidate for the 2027 presidential election. Former Prime Minister and Mayor (Horizons) of Le Havre Edouard Philippe is the subject of a complaint, particularly about favoritism due to the association in charge of running the city’s digital city, we have learned on Friday from consistent sources confirming information from Le Monde.

The complaint was filed on Thursday for favoritism, misappropriation of interests, embezzlement and appropriation of property, as well as moral persecution, said Me Christelle Mazza, lawyer for the former deputy general director of the city community of Le Havre Seine Metropole (Seine-Maritime). The National Financial Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed receipt of this complaint. Eduard Philippe’s entourage did not respond to the question on Friday afternoon.

The document also mentions the deputy mayor responsible for innovation and digital technologies, Stephanie de Basler, and the city’s director general of public services, Claire-Sophie Tasias. In a statement on behalf of “its president (Edouard Philippe), director general (Claire-Sophie Tasias) and community councilor” (Stephanie de Baseler), the city community of Le Havre assured that the three elected officials “were not informed” of this complaint. “If this procedure had been proven, they would clearly and with complete peace of mind be at the disposal of the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office to assert their rights,” the text was added without “additional comments.”

Conflict of interest

In July 2020, Édouard Philippe, president of the city community, signed with Stéphanie de Baseler, this time as voluntary president of the French Technological Association LH, a multi-year agreement on the objectives of the operation and animation of the digital city of Le Havre. . City lawyers have issued recommendations and warnings about the conflict of interest situation in which Stephanie de Basler finds herself, Le Monde reports.

LH French Tech, created in July 2020, was appointed for this mission following a call for expressions of interest submitted by the city community in March 2020 and within the Service of General Economic Interests (SIEG). The association, the only candidate, was to receive compensation of 2.154 million euros from the city community in the form of compensation for utilities for the implementation of the projects, recalls Le Monde.

“We can question the choice of such a legal mechanism if the chairman of the city community is himself a public councilor with experience in public procurement,” responded Mr. Mazza. In the performance of her duties, her client reported in September 2022 in a note addressed to Edouard Philippe about the accumulation of digital assistant functions, the budgetary position of the French technology association LH and the “serious legal risks” that the latter would be liquidated through legal action for both the community and for the association, reports Le Monde.

After this note, the applicant stated that she was suspended from work and mentally persecuted. His three-year contract was not renewed. She has since found a position in the central administration and submitted a dossier to the Advocate for Whistleblower status in March, her lawyer said.