French deputy minister resigns after being found guilty of corruption | Abroad

Greste, who has been part of the French government as a deputy minister for small and medium-sized businesses since July 2020, is suspected of hiding the fact that he has a €171,000 equity savings plan. In addition, he is said to have been personally involved in several companies.

For reasons of transparency, parliamentarians and ministers in France must disclose their holdings to an independent body. Greste, 68, a former taxi driver, has pleaded not guilty in a Paris court. “I never wanted to cheat or steal or hide anything,” she said. “If you’re lucky enough to be a minister, don’t spoil that happiness by trying to hide something so visible.”

The court gave Gressett a six-month suspended prison sentence and not run for office for three years. The man has since announced his resignation from the government, but has said he will appeal the ruling.

Since then, French Prime Minister Jean Castix has taken note of the court’s decision and Greste’s resignation. In a statement, Gresset praised the “fantastic work he has done within the government.” President Emmanuel Macron said he was “very sad” about the resignation.

Greste succeeded in the government Jean-Baptiste Lemoine. Currently, the government is already in charge of tourism, French living abroad, and Francophonie, an organization for countries where the French language is spoken.