Press review - Week of 14 July 2025

Press review – Week of 14 July 2025

This week's press review covers the confirmation by the Paris Court of Appeal of the rejection of the request for recognition as a whistleblower by Houria Aouimeur, former director of the wage guarantee scheme and the investigation into influence peddling and corruption involving Alain Rousset, socialist president of the Nouvelle Aquitaine region. It also covers the investigation by the National Financial Prosecutor's Office into allegedly complex tax schemes involving Société Générale and its Luxembourg subsidiary benefiting major French corporations, as well as the public consultation launched by the French Anti-Corruption Agency until 30 September 2025, regarding practical guides for assessing third parties in relation to corruption risk.

#White collar crime:

Former director of wage guarantee scheme suffers further legal setback

Houria Aouimeur, former director of the wage guarantee scheme (AGS), has been denied recognition as a whistleblower by the Paris Court of Appeal. In 2019, she reported alleged embezzlement within the AGS, but the Labor Court at first instance ruled that she had not played a decisive role in uncovering the facts and the Court of Appeal, for its part, found that she had not personally revealed any new information. This position has been criticized by Houria Aouimeur’s lawyer, as well as by the Défenseur des droits and the Maison des lanceurs d’alerte, who see it as a “worrying signal”. > Read the article

Socialist Alain Rousset, president of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, targeted by legal proceedings following a complaint by Anticor

The socialist president of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, Alain Rousset, is the subject of legal proceedings for influence peddling and corruption following a complaint filed by the Anticor association. The association accuses him of having benefited from functional protection (protection fonctionnelle) – public fund of legal expenses – under disputed circumstances, particularly as he is under investigation for embezzlement of public funds. It also accuses him for having taken part in committee meeting during deliberations regarding the granting of his protection. Alain Rousset denies the accusations and denounces political harassment. > Read the article

Suspicions of tax evasion at Société Générale : major clients under scrutiny after Lactalis

Since January 2024, the French National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) has been investigating Société Générale and its Luxembourg subsidiary, suspected of having set up complex tax schemes to help major French companies reduce their taxable base in France. Among the groups involved are Lactalis, Schneider Electric, Casino, Ipsos, and AXA. Several offenses are being investigated, including aggravated tax fraud laundering. The inquiry aims to determine whether these arrangements had genuine economic substance or were merely tax strategies. > Read the article

#Ethics & Compliance

The AFA launches a public consultation until 30 September 2025, on a draft practical guides on third party corruption risk assessment

The French Anti-Corruption Agency (AFA) is submitting practical guides for consultation to help companies evaluate their third parties regarding integrity risks. These guides are intended both for companies subject to Article 17 of the Sapin II Law and for SMEs seeking to structure their business relationships. Based on the official Recommendations from January 2021, the guides illustrate each phase: identification, categorization, individual evaluations, decision-making, remediation, and monitoring. Their content draws from an October 2023 survey, inspections carried out by the AFA, and questions collected during its awareness-raising initiatives. Practitioners may send their feedback on the format, suggested improvements or examples, and any missing topics to consultation.afa@afa.gouv.fr until 30 September 2025. > Read the article