Dominique de Villepin a reçu en cadeau deux statuettes lorsqu'il était au Quai d'Orsay, selon l'émission "Complément d'Enquête"
Dominique de Villepin, who is preparing a candidacy for the 2027 presidential election, received as a gift when he was Minister of Foreign Affairs two statuettes worth tens of thousands of euros through lobbyist Robert Bourgi, according to the program "Complément d'Enquête".
Robert Bourgi, a figure of Françafrique, claims to have sent Dominique de Villepin two statuettes of Napoleon, one given in 2002 by Blaise Compaoré, then president of Burkina Faso, the other by the Italian businessman Gian Angelo Perrucci.
They were bought for 75,000 euros and 50,000 euros respectively by these two men, according to invoices published by the France 2 program, which will be broadcast on Thursday.
Dominique de Villepin states that these were gifts paid for by Robert Bourgi. However, he maintains that he would "never" have accepted these items if he had known "their origin" and says he is ready to return them.
His entourage denounced to AFP a "smokescreen" propagated by a "loyal relay of Nicolas Sarkozy" known for "his changing stories and his dirty tricks", the former president being an eternal rival of Dominique de Villepin.
"No one is fooled by the maneuvers of a clan on the verge of judicial and political collapse," added the source, stressing that this statement comes in the midst of the appeal trial on the accusations of Libyan financing of Nicolas Sarkozy's presidential campaign in 2007.
Robert Bourgi asserts in "Complément d'Enquête" that the former president has nothing to do with these new revelations.
Mr. Bourgi nevertheless claims to hold a grudge against Dominique de Villepin because of remarks made at the time of Nicolas Sarkozy's imprisonment last year and wants to do everything to "prevent him from going to the Elysée".
Dominique de Villepin, former Prime Minister under Chirac, is not yet officially a candidate for next year's election but does not hide his ambitions.
Robert Bourgi's name is associated with the luxury suits affair that helped sink François Fillon's presidential campaign in 2017.
Mr. Bourgi had given him 13,000 euros worth of suits, raising suspicions of influence peddling which ultimately led to the case being dismissed.
Robert Bourgi, a shadowy figure in France's political and financial networks in former colonies, also claimed in 2011 to have delivered suitcases of cash from African countries to Jacques Chirac and Dominique de Villepin between 1997 and 2005. An investigation was opened and then closed without further action in November 2011.
Dominique de Villepin states in "Complément d'enquête" that this "perfectly far-fetched" story is the work of a "marvelous storyteller".
AFP
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