According to Wednesday’s decision, Eleonore Leprettre (new director of communications in the phytosanitary sector) has been asked by the High Authority for the Transparency of Public Life, HAVP, to abstain from approaching Marc Fesneau, the Minister of Agriculture, of whom she was the chief of staff.
Between October 2018 to May 2022 Eleonore Laprettre served as deputy chief of staff, then chief of the staff to Marc Fesneau. At that time, Marc Fesneau was minister delegate to Prime Minister and responsible for relations with Parliament. Marc Fesneau is the Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty since May 20.
HATVP was contacted at the end of April. This was just before Eleonore joined Phyteis (the former Union of Plant Protection Industries, UIPP), which brings together all the major pesticide producers in France (Syngenta Bayer / BASF, Corteva ).
Although the High Authority states that there is no evidence to doubt the ethical principles of Eleonore, Leprettre’s behavior, it lays out safeguards. It recalls that the individual concerned “could”, within the context of her activities within Phyteis,” take steps with the authorities and that it is necessary to “supervise” his professional relationships in the future “to prevent any risk of questioning normal functioning, independence, and neutrality the administration.”
This restriction applies “until expiry of a three-year period following the termination of an employment relationship between Eleonore and the persons affected.”
Its compliance will be subject to “regular supervision” by the High Authority. This specifies that Eleonore leprettre is responsible for “not using any non-public information or document of which she would not have known because of her previous public functions.” Without time limit.
“I want to remind you that all ministerial advisors who are converting to the private industry must follow the same rules, the HATVP reservations and associated deadlines. Eleonore Leprettre said that no specific reference was made to me in the notice.” Eleonore Leprettre spoke for AFP.
Eleonore Leprettre, one of nine permanent employees at Phyteis, holds the position as Director of Communications and Public Affairs.
