FRANCE: Police detain photographer and financial advisor in L’Oreal scandal
French police detained two men for questioning Thursday over the scandal surrounding L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt. The two are Bettencourt’s friend, photographer Francois-Marie Banier, and her financial adviser, Patrice de Maistre. Read More
FRANCE: Government and media on a collision course over Bettencourt scandal
The French government came out swinging Friday against news web site Mediapart and its director Edwy Plenel, slamming them as “the trashcan of the Internet” after the organisation published a series of revelations on the “Bettencourt Affair”. Read More
FRANCE: Bettencourt’s ex-accountant partially retracts statement in L’Oreal donations scandal
Billionaire Liliane Bettencourt’s accountant, re-interrogated on Wednesday night by police, retracted parts of her statement regarding an alleged 50,000-euro payment to Labour Minister Eric Woerth. Read More
FRANCE: Probe launched into Woerth’s role in L’Oreal cash scandal
Prosecutors have launched an investigation following allegations made by Liliane Bettencourt’s former accountant that the L’Oreal heiress (photo) illegally funded Nicolas Sarkozy’s presidential campaign through French Labour Minister Eric Woerth. Read More
FRANCE: Bettencourt scandal increases Mediapart site’s subscription base
French Web site Mediapart has been at the centre of a scandal that has stretched from French business life into top political circles. Founded by veteran journalist Edwy Plenel (pictured,) the site has set its sights on a fresh New Media model. Read More
FRANCE: Sarkozy accused of receiving illegal donation from L’Oreal heiress
French President Nicolas Sarkozy denied claims Tuesday he had received a 150,000 euro cash donation from scandal-hit L’Oreal heiress, Liliane Bettencourt. Bettencourt’s former accountant said the donation was made via Labour Minister Eric Woerth. Read More
FRANCE: Junior ministers ‘sacrificed’ to save scandal-hit labour minister
The French press has reacted with near unanimity to the resignation of Junior Ministers Christian Blanc and Alain Joyandet, attributing their removal to a government bid to protect scandal-hit Labour Minister Eric Woerth (pictured right). Read More
FRANCE: Minister hits back at accusations over heiress tax refund
French Labour Minister Eric Woerth has hit back at reports that he approved a 30-million-euro tax refund for L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, who is embroiled in a scandal that comes at a delicate time for the right-wing government. Read More
FRANCE: L’Oreal fraud trial adjourned amid growing tax scandal
A French court has indefinitely adjourned the trial of photographer Francois-Marie Banier (photo), the man accused of defrauding L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, saying it needed time to examine new evidence linking Bettencourt to a tax scandal. Read More
FRANCE: L’Oreal tax scandal intensifies for French minister Woerth
For the French press and opposition, French Labour Minister Eric Woerth and his wife got too close to the super-rich L’Oreal heiress, accused of plotting to evade taxes. Bad timing when Woerth is trying to institute unpopular pensions reforms. Read More