“I was only asked to be less visible in the media. For the rest, I took over as before ”. Alexandre Benalla hammered, Thursday, September 16, in court “ that no mission restrictions “ was not him “Served” on his return to the Élysée, on May 21, 2018, after a fifteen-day suspension following the “Events of 1 is May “.
The former project manager, tried for willful violence on the sidelines of the Labor Day procession and the fraudulent use of diplomatic passports, believes that if his superiors mentioned this, in a note that did not tell him “Not transmitted”, is that they “Needed to cover up”.
“His missions were to be concentrated in the palace”
He responded in particular, this Thursday, September 16, to François-Xavier Lauch, then chief of staff of the Elysee. The latter assured the court “That it was question in their exchanges, in addition to the reprimand and the fact that the confidence was not there any more, of the fact that its missions were to be concentrated in the palace”.
But Alexandre Benalla insists: until his dismissal on July 20, he “ 90% took care of private travel ” of the president and took part in official events, including the tribute to Simone Veil at the Pantheon or the return of the Blues, world football champions. For these cases, François-Xavier Lauch recognizes that he has “Had to resort” to him.
The tension was palpable throughout the hearing between the two men. The prefect, now deputy chief of staff to the Minister of the Interior, facing the defendant, seated on the bench of the civil parties. Alexandre Benalla is suspected of having used his letterhead to renew a service passport. What he disputes.
“It’s just proof of identity
François-Xavier Lauch still emphasizes having “Discovered in retrospect” that Alexandre Benalla had had two diplomatic passports issued for “Visa incompatibility”. But he said, “For a long time it had no longer had a role for trips abroad”. S’occupant “Only private travel by the presidential couple”.
“I needed it, I had to have the tools available to go anywhere or anytime with the president, retorts the former representative. I never use a passport with my personal details in the performance of my duties. “. He nevertheless admits having used these diplomatic passports for trips to Turkey, Chad, Morocco or the Bahamas between August and December 2018, after his dismissal. ” Nonsense “, he said, noting that “It’s just proof of identity, it doesn’t confer any quality. “
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