PARIS (Reuters) – The French Minister for Energy Transition on Tuesday denounced “false and slanderous allegations” following information from the investigative media Disclose on a possible conflict of interest with a company created by her father, including a part of the funds would be domiciled in tax havens.
According to Disclose, the father of Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Jean-Michel Runacher, founded in 2016 a civil society, “Arjunem”, as part of a transmission of assets to his grandchildren – including the three children of the Minister then minors – which would come in part from hedge funds based in Delaware, the United States, Ireland and Guernsey. There is talk of some 1.2 million euros in shares.
The oil company Perenco, of which Jean-Michel Runacher was then one of the leaders, held investments in these funds, further asserts Disclose. A “possible conflict of interest”, he notes.
Agnès Pannier-Runacher did not mention the existence of this structure in her declarations of interests and assets to the High Authority for the transparency of public life (HATVP), children being excluded from this field.
Questioned on this subject on several occasions in the National Assembly, during the session of questions to the government, the minister spoke of “false and slanderous allegations” for “a subject which has no connection with my duties as minister. “.
“In 2016, my father wanted to prepare his succession by direct transmission to his grandchildren. This transmission took place through a French company subject to French taxation, by notarial deed established in Paris, and in the full compliance with the provisions applicable by French law” detailed Agnès Pannier-Runacher, committing to full “transparency”.
“There is therefore nothing hidden, nothing hidden”, she underlined, recalling that she did not have to mention this company to the HATVP, the law providing “expressly that declarations of assets should not do not concern the heritage of children, including minors”.
“I specify that I do not benefit, and will never benefit from these funds, having no right, present or future on this company”, added the minister, specifying that his children had not received money from the society.
Regarding the conflict of interest charges, Agnès Pannier-Runacher declared that she had “no connection with the Perenco company”.
“My father, now 77, has actually worked in the oil sector since 1979, it’s no secret,” she said.
Perenco is “a foreign company which exercises its oil activities outside France, so I did not have in my functions as minister to know of the activities of this group”, she said.
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(Written by Sophie Louet, edited by Tangi Salaün)