After the controversy, François Fillon announces in a forum at the Sunday newspaper on February 27 his resignation from his mandates within two Russian companies: the former French Prime Minister will leave the board of directors of the Russian petrochemical giant Sibur and his chair at the management of Zarubezhneft, specializing in the development and l exploitation of deposits. A decision motivated by British pressure but also the controversy in France over its links with the Kremlin.
Five years after the fiasco of his presidential candidacy, François Fillon had returned to haunt the campaign of Valérie Pécresse, singled out for his interests in Russia as Vladimir Putin sent his troops to Ukraine.
The former Prime Minister of Nicolas Sarkozy tried to defend himself in a message posted on Twitter. Failed: his criticisms of NATO have revived the controversy.
It was ultimately the threats of financial sanctions requested by a British MP that certainly made him think.
In his op-ed published by the JDD, François Fillon announces that he is abandoning his positions in two Russian groups close to the Kremlin. He also lets go that Vladimir Putin would be the ” sole culprit ” to his eyes ” to have started a conflict which should have been avoided “.
François Fillon warned Valérie Pécresse by telephone. The Republican candidate might feel relieved to have one less burden to drag around her campaign: ” It is a decision that honors him. Mr. Putin’s attitude cannot be dissociated from that of the large Russian groups which are the backbone of the Russian state. “, she confided to Julien Chavannejournalist in the political department of RFI.
Several former European leaders, including the Italian Matteo Renzi, had already left their posts in Russian companies, without waiting for the threat of sanctions.