Jacques Serais // photo credit: STEPHANE MOUCHMOUCHE / HANS LUCAS / HANS LUCAS VIA AFP 07:33, July 29, 2023

The Court of Cassation confirmed Friday, the Keeper of the Seals, Eric Dupond-Moretti, will pass well before the judges for suspicions of illegal taking of interest. An unusual event, since the trial of a Minister of Justice in office is a first in history.

This is in any case a first in the history of the Fifth Republic, never such a situation has occurred. A Keeper of the Seals before the Court of Justice of the Republic, which promises a hearing will be unprecedented. Traveling in the Vaucluse this Friday afternoon, Eric Dupont-Moretti refused to react. "I will answer when the time comes. Everything in its own time," he said.

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"All the confidence of Elisabeth Borne"

On the merits, the Minister is suspected of having taken advantage of his office to settle scores with magistrates whom he had opposed in the past when he was a lawyer. But despite eight appeals by Éric Dupond-Moretti, the Court of Cassation finally followed the requisitions made by the Advocate General. A news that falls badly for the presidential camp, a week after the announcement of the reshuffle.

But the Minister of Justice still retains "all the confidence of Elisabeth Borne", while Matignon recalls the presumption of innocence to which the minister is entitled, and ensures that the judicial proceedings continue independently. As for the two main magistrates' unions, they believe that this situation weakens the entire judicial institution.