Alexandre Chauveau with AFP
modified to
12:20 p.m., November 22, 2022
A preliminary investigation was opened, in particular for embezzlement of public funds, after the publication of articles according to which the ex-wife of Eric Ciotti would have accumulated several jobs in the Assembly, in Nice and in the department, indicated Tuesday the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF), confirming information from BFMTV. This investigation, also opened for breach of trust and concealment of these offenses, “aims to verify the validity of the elements published in the press”, specified this source.
In its edition last Wednesday, the chained duck affirmed that the former wife of deputy LR Éric Ciotti, Caroline Magne, had accumulated various jobs with the deputy or political allies: press attaché to Christian Estrosi, in 2007 she became parliamentary attaché to Éric Ciotti when he was elected to the Assembly, in addition to a job at the Alpes-Maritimes Departmental Council where she “extended her skills” when her husband took over as president in 2008.
“Strict compliance with laws and regulations”
The article also reveals that she became deputy director of the mayor of Nice before joining the steering team of the urban community, exercising these responsibilities until 2011. At the Assembly, her contract ended in 2016 but she also, between 2014 and 2016, exercised responsibilities in the town of La Colle-sur-Loup, and had a job in the diocese of Nice between 2012 and 2014, according to the chained duck.
After the publication of this article, the deputy, candidate for the presidency of his party, said he was “basely attacked” and explained that he had employed Caroline Magne as a parliamentary collaborator “on a very part-time basis” and “in strict compliance with the laws and regulations”. Eric Ciotti notably clarified that the limit of 44 hours per week authorized by law has never been exceeded. “Everyone knows her, she’s a big hard worker,” a member of Caroline Magne’s entourage told Europe 1.
It remains to be seen what impact this affair will have on the campaign of the deputy of the Alpes-Maritimes, candidate for the presidency of the LR. For the support of another presidential candidate, the gene will be non-existent: “The LR member hates Mediapart and the chained duck and he is the least subject voter in the world to this kind of revelation”.