Alexis Kohler who is the top official in France President, Emmanuel Macron’s office has been slammed with some charges which also include conflict of interest while he had been in office as had been revealed by the chief financial crimes prosecutor on Monday.
Alexis Kohler, who also holds one of France’s most powerful jobs as the Elysee secretary-general has also been accused over his professional and some other family links which he held with the Italian-Swiss shipping company MSC which is being run by his mother’s cousins.
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On Monday, he “categorically denied any wrongdoing”, as his lawyer had revealed in a statement, while an official in Macron’s office said Kohler remained in his post.
In 2018, Anticor, an anti-corruption NGO, had also filed a legal complaint against Kohler for some of the illegal influence-peddling concerning contracts awarded to MSC in 2010 and 2011. Kohler allegedly failed to notify his family connection with MSC to the French agency for public investment, where he worked at the time.
In another report, the President of France Emmanuel Macron yesterday informed the United Nations that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a move back to an age of what he described as ‘imperialism’.
‘What we have witnessed since February 24 is a return to the age of imperialism and colonies. France refuses this and will work persistently for peace,’ he informed the UN General Assembly.
‘Who is a hegemon now if not Russia?’ he asked.
Macron addressed the General Assembly hours after Russian allies said they would call referendums on annexation in occupied parts of Ukraine, a move denounced by Western powers.
European countries and the United States have imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia but a number of developing nations have sought more of a middle ground and fear that the Ukraine crisis is overshadowing other concerns.