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Luchaire Affair

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Front page of February 28, 1986 of the newspaper "La Presse de la Manche" triggering the Luchaire affair.

The Luchaire Affaire is a French is a politico-financial scandal which happened in the 1980s, under the François Mitterrand presidency.

The facts

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Between 1982 and 1986, while Charles Hernu was the French Minister of Defence, France supplied shells to Iran. This was allowed by a French commission because of a fake mentioning other countries rather than Iran. This affair was revealed by the Presse de la Manche newspaper, then by a report by the Contrôle général des armées published by L'Express in January 1987.[1] Furthermore, 3 millions of francs in kickback might have given back to the French Socialist Party.[2]

This affair is revealed by the Presse de la Manche newsparer, then by a report by the Contrôle général des armées Jean-François Barba, published by L'Express in January 1987.[3]

The investigation

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A formal investigation is judge is put in charge of the judge Michel Legrand. But Jean-François Barba withdraws his allegations and the judge can not obtain any classified documents to pursue his investigation. Prosecutor Pierre Bézard, against the judge legal advice and under a direct written order from the French Ministry of Justice, orders a dismissal of the case which is acted on 16 June 1989.[3]

Aftermath

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After this scandal, the first transparency of public life law was voted: it defined the state funding of political parties, and made mandatory for some public servants to publish their financial status.[4] It ultimately led in 2013 to the creation of the Haute Autorité pour la transparence de la vie publique.

References

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  1. ^ "1987: l'affaire Luchaire". L'Express. 1995-03-30. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
  2. ^ Collective (2014). Histoire secrète de la corruption: Sous la 5ème République. Nouveau Monde éditions. ISBN 9782369420965. On remarque une petite rétrocommission de 9780000 euros remise par les acheteurs iraniens à deux membres du PS, des fidèles de Charles Hernu
  3. ^ a b "1987: l'affaire Luchaire". L'Express. 1995-03-30. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
  4. ^ "1987: La transparence de la vie politique à marche forcée". France Info. 2015-01-06. Retrieved 2019-12-15.