Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot Under Investigation for Alleged Embezzlement and Illegal Interests
January 13, 2025
From April 2018 to July 2020, he was the director of the GIP, earning €82,473 net in 2019, which translates to about €6,900 per month.
Elected as a senator for Alpes-Maritimes in September 2020, Tabarot is recognized for his expertise in the transport sector and has advocated for legislation regulating strike rights in railways ahead of the Olympic Games.
Tabarot's appointment to the government has sparked backlash from environmentalists and labor unions due to his controversial political decisions.
This situation raises significant concerns regarding the accountability and integrity of the Bayrou government amid ongoing legal scrutiny.
Philippe Tabarot, the newly appointed Minister of Transport, is under investigation for alleged embezzlement of public funds and illegal interests, following a report from the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life.
The investigation has been confirmed to be ongoing, with a search conducted at Tabarot's home and the offices of the Cannet municipality and the Public Interest Group (GIP) of Cannet.
The inquiry primarily focuses on Tabarot's roles within the GIP for tourism and culture and his communications work for the town of Cannet from 2018 to 2020, where his sister, Michèle Tabarot, served as mayor.
Prior to his ministerial appointment, Tabarot served as the first vice-president of the Committee on Territorial Planning and Sustainable Development, focusing on transport issues.
His tenure on the regional council included overseeing the controversial privatization of the TER line between Marseille and Nice, awarded to Transdev in 2021.
Despite the gravity of the investigation, Tabarot has stated that he has no information regarding its content or purpose and has not been formally questioned.
Judicial sources confirm that the preliminary investigation into Tabarot's activities is still ongoing.
During this period, Tabarot earned €15,318 as a communication officer for Cannet while also serving as a regional councilor, where he earned approximately €40,000 net annually.
Summary based on 8 sources