Claude Bartolone

Under Claude Bartolone's presidency, the parliamentary reserve continued to attract criticism for its historic opacity and risks of clientelism. The Court of Auditors highlighted these shortcomings, while the National Assembly gradually published details of awarded grants.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Institutional responsibility

Following Benoît Hamon's victory in the Socialist primary, Claude Bartolone stated that he found it 'difficult to identify' with his campaign and called for a broader alliance. His distancing illustrated the Socialist Party's deep divisions during the 2017 presidential election.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

A preliminary investigation was opened into Didier Segal-Saurel's recruitment by the Seine-Saint-Denis departmental council when Claude Bartolone was its president. The Regional Audit Chamber had identified a hasty recruitment, poorly defined duties and the absence of the originally expected historical publication. Bartolone was questioned as the signatory of the assignment letter.

The Île-de-France Regional Audit Chamber criticised the management of staff in the office of the president of the Seine-Saint-Denis departmental council during Claude Bartolone's leadership. It identified, in particular, more staff than the statutory limit and recruitment procedures departing from normal rules.

State of the evidence

Documented

In January 2015, Claude Bartolone, then President of the National Assembly, advocated 'ending bicameralism in its present form' and bringing the Senate closer to the Economic, Social and Environmental Council. All six Senate groups publicly condemned his remarks, and Gérard Larcher suspended a joint initiative with him.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Between the two rounds of the Île-de-France regional elections, Claude Bartolone stated that Valérie Pécresse was implicitly defending 'Versailles, Neuilly and the White race'. The phrase triggered major controversy, and the right-wing candidate announced a complaint for aggravated insult.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Claude Bartolone's campaign in Île-de-France was marked by an escalation of complaints and judicial allegations against Valérie Pécresse's camp, notably concerning leaflets distributed by a local authority. Meanwhile, Bartolone himself was under investigation concerning the recruitment of Didier Segal-Saurel.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Direct responsibility

The National Assembly Bureau chaired by Claude Bartolone prohibited MPs from using their parliamentary expenses allowance (IRFM) to purchase new constituency offices, a practice criticised because it could convert public money into private assets.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Institutional responsibility

During the Île-de-France regional election campaign, Claude Bartolone said that former regional president Michel Giraud had 'ended up in prison'. Les Républicains officials in Val-de-Marne announced a defamation complaint, pointing out that the prison sentence imposed on Giraud at first instance had been reduced to a fine on appeal.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

When ministers' assets were published following the Cahuzac affair, Claude Bartolone expressed strong reservations about publicly exposing personal wealth, fearing a drift towards voyeurism.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated