The French Minister of Sports and Olympic Games, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, attended a campaign meeting for the European elections on May 7, 2024, in Paris. She then went to Marseille on May 8 to witness the arrival of the Olympic flame. However, unbeknownst to her, she had been reported for “illegal conflict of interest” by the anti-corruption association Anticor on January 25. The report was sent to the Commission of Requests of the Court of Justice of the Republic, the only jurisdiction competent to judge government members. The report concerned a meeting on March 31, 2023, of the board of the public interest group (GIP) France 2023, which was responsible for organizing the Rugby World Cup in France that year, of which the minister was a member.
During the meeting, a decision was made regarding the validation of financial investments for the organizing committee. A financial investment made in 2021 with one of their partners, Société Générale, for 24 million euros had resulted in a loss of over a million euros. The GIP board had to vote on “the exit of this investment.” Despite a government decree from August 4, 2022, which required the minister to abstain from any activities related to certain companies, including Société Générale, it was noted that she did not participate in the discussions or the vote during this meeting.
Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, a former tennis champion and former general director of the French Tennis Federation (FFT), is married to Frédéric Oudéa, who was the CEO of Société Générale for fifteen years. This personal situation could potentially lead to a conflict of interest, which is why the government decree required her to refrain from any dealings related to certain companies. Anticor noted that during the meeting on March 31, 2023, where the discussion revolved around the business relationship with Société Générale, the minister seemed distracted and engaged in conversations with others, without leaving the room during the discussion and vote.
Anticor believes that the minister’s failure to recuse herself from the discussions and vote during the GIP board meeting may constitute an illegal conflict of interest. The association concluded that this behavior could potentially be a violation of the law. The situation involving the minister and her connection to Société Générale raised concerns about the transparency and integrity of the decision-making process within the GIP. It is important to uphold ethical standards and ensure that public officials act in the best interest of the public.
The case involving Amélie Oudéa-Castéra highlights the importance of maintaining ethical standards and avoiding conflicts of interest in public office. As a government minister overseeing sports and the Olympic Games, her actions and decisions have a direct impact on important events and organizations. It is crucial for government officials to uphold the highest standards of integrity and transparency to ensure public trust and confidence in the decision-making process. The allegations of illegal conflict of interest against the minister raise questions about the accountability and oversight mechanisms in place to prevent such issues from occurring in the future.
