Ségolène Royal

Following Radio France's investigation into her ambassadorial mission, Royal publicly attacked journalist Sylvain Tronchet and his work, using expressions including "investigation-denunciation unit" and "pseudo-investigation". The Paris Criminal Court convicted her of defamation in April 2023.

Attribution

Accused

Before broadcast of a Complément d'enquête documentary on tensions between France and Algeria, Royal was exceptionally allowed to view a nearly final version in preparation for the concluding interview, then withdrew. In Algiers, she subsequently described the documentary as "unacceptable" and suggested that it had been "biased" because it had been commissioned when Bruno Retailleau was Interior Minister.

State of the evidence

Reported by the press

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Directly implicated

Invited to LFI's Amfis summer gathering, Royal announced that she was willing to lead a united left-wing list for the 2024 European elections, catching several PS and EELV leaders by surprise. She acknowledged an element of improvisation in the timing of her announcement.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Political responsibility

On BFM-TV, Royal condemned what she called "fear-based war propaganda" and questioned accounts relating to Bucha and the bombing of the Mariupol maternity hospital despite available evidence. Her remarks were widely criticised and received favourable coverage in Russian media.

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Personally implicated

The National Financial Prosecutor's Office opened a preliminary investigation into the use of public resources made available to Royal in her role as ambassador responsible for polar affairs.

Following several public criticisms of Emmanuel Macron's policies, the executive accused Royal of breaching the duty of restraint associated with her diplomatic mission and terminated her position by decree in January 2020.

State of the evidence

Documented

In late 2016, Royal inaugurated an experimental one-kilometre solar road in Tourouvre, financed with approximately €5 million. By 2019, the road surface had deteriorated considerably and electricity production was far below targets.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

A Radio France investigation described a foundation with few completed projects, financed or hosted by several patrons. The Hervé group, active in insulation and energy performance, hosted the foundation while Royal campaigned to restore a tax credit favourable to the sector, raising questions about an apparent conflict of interest.

Radio France's investigative unit stated that Royal had attended no official Arctic Council meeting since her appointment and that certain resources connected with her role as polar ambassador had been used for activities linked to her book, foundation or personal public profile.

Attribution

Directly implicated

As Ecology Minister, Royal described the heavy goods vehicle ecotax as absurd and championed its permanent suspension followed by termination of the Ecomouv' contract. The Court of Auditors assessed compensation for Ecomouv' and its partners at €958 million, in addition to tens of millions in expenditure rendered useless.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

The Regional Audit Chamber found that the former Poitou-Charentes region deferred between €86.4 million and €111.6 million in expenditure from 2015 to 2016, with overall debt estimated at between €479.5 million and €504.7 million. An internal memorandum referred to a budgetary catch-up of €197 million.

State of the evidence

Documented

Royal defended more permissive wolf culling and greater flexibility to protect livestock, provoking anger among nature conservation associations and environmentalist politicians.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Political responsibility

While the government remained committed to the Notre-Dame-des-Landes airport project following the local referendum, Royal advocated alternative solutions and stated in October 2016 that it would be better to "stop throwing money at it".

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Political responsibility

Representing France at ceremonies following Fidel Castro's death, Royal praised his record, called him a "monument of History" and condemned what she characterised as "disinformation" concerning certain allegations of human rights abuses and political prisoners.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Personally implicated

Royal publicly urged people to stop eating Nutella because of palm oil's impact on deforestation. The statement provoked a political reaction in Italy and a defence of Ferrero, including from organisations noting the company's progress on sustainable sourcing.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Personally implicated

Under Royal's presidency, Poitou-Charentes strongly supported the electric car sector and acquired a 12% stake in Mia Electric. The company was placed in judicial liquidation in March 2014; a Regional Audit Chamber report subsequently described regional support as substantial and the operation as costly.

State of the evidence

Documented

Royal made the rescue of vehicle body manufacturer Heuliez an emblematic project of her regional industrial policy. She hailed the rescue approved in 2010 as a major success, but the company subsequently entered insolvency proceedings again and its historic business was ultimately liquidated.

State of the evidence

Documented

Endorsed by the PS in Charente-Maritime's 1st constituency, Royal faced Socialist dissident Olivier Falorni, who condemned her being "parachuted in" against local members' wishes. After finishing first in the opening round, she called on him to withdraw; Falorni stayed in and won the second round with 62.97% against 37.03%.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Directly implicated

After the presidential election, Désirs d'avenir operated as an association rather than a political party. Pierre Bergé financed the rent of its Paris headquarters through a friendly organisation, while an arrangement between several associations organised occupation of the premises. Association status allowed greater flexibility over donations.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Two former parliamentary assistants of Ségolène Royal succeeded in prolonged employment law litigation. The Rennes Court of Appeal found, in particular, that the employment relationship had continued and that its termination should have the consequences of dismissal without real and serious cause.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Directly implicated

Following Orelsan's removal from the Francofolies programme, founder Jean-Louis Foulquier accused Ségolène Royal of exerting "blackmail over regional subsidies" because of the rapper's lyrics.

Attribution

Accused

The election for PS First Secretary pitted Royal against Martine Aubry in an extremely close contest. An initial count gave Aubry victory by 42 votes; Royal's camp denounced numerous anomalies and alleged fraud, while Aubry's camp also challenged certain opposing practices.

State of the evidence

Disputed

During her visit to China, Royal reported that a lawyer had told her Chinese courts could be faster than those in France and called for comparisons before "lecturing others", sparking controversy over her view of an authoritarian judicial system.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Personally implicated

On the Great Wall of China, Royal used the word "bravitude". The neologism immediately became a target of political and media mockery and fuelled the portrayal of a candidate prone to "blunders".

State of the evidence

Reported by the press

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Directly implicated

After meeting Quebec sovereigntist leader André Boisclair, Royal cited "Quebec's sovereignty and freedom" among their shared values. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper considered interference by a foreign politician in Canada's democratic affairs inappropriate.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Personally implicated

Asked by Jean-Jacques Bourdin how many nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines France had, Royal initially answered "one", then agreed with the journalist's answer of "seven". France actually had four such submarines.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Directly implicated

Royal proposed that every family own a French flag and display it in their window on 14 July, while La Marseillaise was sung at the end of her rallies. This patriotic shift triggered unexpected controversy on the left.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Directly implicated

During the debate between the two rounds, Royal stated that nuclear power accounted for 17% of French electricity generation, whereas its share was approximately 78.5%. She subsequently acknowledged a "slip of the tongue", as 17% was closer to nuclear energy's contribution to final energy consumption.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Personally implicated

The CNCCFP approved Ségolène Royal's presidential campaign accounts following adjustments, with expenditure set at €20,615,776 and income at €20,815,003.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

While preparing for the 2007 presidential election, Royal proposed a tougher approach to juvenile crime, including "military-style supervision" for certain young people and placing family benefits under supervision in some cases.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Directly implicated

Having previously expressed reservations about opening marriage to homosexual couples, citing family structures in particular, Royal declared herself in June 2006 in favour of marriage and adoption rights for same-sex couples and reaffirmed the commitment during the Socialist primary debates.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Directly implicated

During a meeting in Lebanon, Hezbollah MP Ali Ammar made remarks comparing Israeli policy to Nazism. Royal was accused in France of failing to react and endorsing part of his intervention.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

During the primary and subsequently her visit to the Middle East, Royal argued that Iran should not be allowed to control the civilian nuclear process, adopting a more restrictive position than several Socialist rivals.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Directly implicated

As a young MP, Ségolène Royal published Le Ras-le-bol des bébés zappeurs in 1989 and campaigned against violence in children's programmes, notably targeting Japanese animation broadcast on television. She subsequently continued the campaign through proposals to regulate audiovisual violence.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Directly implicated

As minister responsible for schools, Royal authorised school nurses by circular to dispense NorLevo in emergencies. On 30 June 2000, the Council of State annulled the relevant provisions, finding that they contravened the Neuwirth Law then restricting prescription and dispensing of hormonal contraceptives to doctors and pharmacies.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Following remarks about hazing at Lycée Thiers in Marseille, Royal was committed for trial before the Court of Justice of the Republic for complicity in defamation of two teachers who recognised themselves in her statements.

Attribution

Accused

Course of the proceedings

1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome