“No foreign power”: Dominique de Villepin denies having financial ties with Gulf countries

Former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, recently accused in the press of having financial ties to Qatar or Saudi Arabia, on Thursday defended himself against consulting “any foreign power,” insisting that advice from his companies’ clients had “no” influence on his public statements. . .

“I give geopolitical advice on the evolution of the world, and this is a completely open speech, without any elements of influence or conflict of interest,” the former diplomat said on BFMTV during a tense conversation with journalist Apolline de Malherbe, who asked him questions. about the origin of his income.

His company’s financial statements have not been published since 2008.

“The activities of my company are completely connected with two French consulting companies, two French companies, to which I provide consultations at the geopolitical level in France and abroad,” the former prime minister assured. The rest of my work is voluntary, most of it in the field of arts and culture.” And he added: “So there is nothing to suspect, nothing to imply. »

“By definition, when you do consulting work, you don’t name people,” he insisted, although, according to a Le Monde investigation, he has not published his company’s accounts since 2008, preferring to pay a fine. “I would be completely willing to do this in confidence,” he admitted, reiterating that “there is no foreign power behind this.”

In its latest declaration, Villepin International recorded a turnover of 4.6 million euros and a profit of 2.6 million euros in the year of its creation.

“What would be the business plan today to protect those who are dying in the Gaza Strip? “, he asked, confirming that “most Arab states are ridiculed or have no say in these matters,” in response to Apolline de Malherbe, who asked him if the interview was part of a “business plan.”

“Who owns your channel?” »

Dominique de Villepin criticized the BFMTV journalist for being influenced herself, and also condemned the channel’s “untrue comments” about her. “Who owns your channel?” Is she under pressure? Are there any political or diplomatic directives? “,” he listed. The 24-hour news channel is owned by Altice, the group of French-Israeli billionaire Patrick Drahi.

70-year-old Dominique de Villepin made history in 2003 by appealing to the UN with France’s refusal of armed intervention in Iraq. In France, he is one of the voices defending the cause of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, an “open-air prison”, calling since October to take into account the views of those in the world who see things differently from them. Westerners and supporters of a two-state solution.