Martine Aubry

A preliminary investigation was opened following a report by MP Violette Spillebout, who accused Martine Aubry of arranging for boxer Licia Boudersa to be employed by the City of Lille in exchange for her support during the 2020 municipal election campaign. The offences examined included corruption, influence peddling and embezzlement of public funds.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Martine Aubry was re-elected mayor of Lille in 2020 with a majority of only 227 votes. Her opponents applied to the Administrative Court, alleging various electoral irregularities and seeking annulment of the vote.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Martine Aubry repeatedly criticised economic policy during François Hollande's presidency, particularly the Responsibility Pact, the CICE tax credit, the Macron Law and, more broadly, an approach she considered excessively liberal. Her attacks on Emmanuel Macron and the executive exposed a deep division within the Socialist Party.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Following the November 2015 attacks, Martine Aubry opposed enshrining deprivation of nationality for certain people convicted of terrorism in the Constitution, a measure advocated by François Hollande and Manuel Valls. The issue deeply divided the left and the Socialist Party.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Martine Aubry was formally placed under investigation in November 2012 for involuntary manslaughter and injury in an inquiry into asbestos exposure, in connection with her duties as director of labour relations between 1984 and 1987. The proceedings examined the administration's role in protecting employees.

Martine Aubry was repeatedly accused of introducing swimming pool sessions in Lille reserved for Muslims or Muslim women. The controversy was used in nationwide debates on communitarianism and secularism.

State of the evidence

Documented

Ahead of the 2011 Socialist primary, an alleged informal arrangement between Martine Aubry and Dominique Strauss-Kahn, often called the 'Marrakech pact', fuelled suspicions that the two leaders had agreed not to stand against each other. Its disclosure prompted criticism that the presidential nominee was being decided by party leaders rather than primary voters.

State of the evidence

Documented

Martine Aubry was declared First Secretary of the Socialist Party following an exceptionally close internal vote against Ségolène Royal, with a final margin of 102 votes. Allegations of manipulation and irregularities persisted and resurfaced in 2009 following publication of a book about the election.

State of the evidence

Allegations

As Minister for Employment and Solidarity, Martine Aubry led the two laws reducing the statutory working week to 35 hours. The reform triggered a lasting confrontation with employers and trade union criticism over negotiating arrangements, overtime, managers and funding.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility