On Tuesday, the Socialist Party (PS) called for a parliamentary committee of enquiry to be set up following the revelation of new facts concerning the suspicions of money laundering hanging over former European Commissioner Didier Reynders.
In recent days, the press has revealed that searches were carried out last month at the home of an antique dealer and at the home of one of the former MR deputy prime minister's closest associates, Jean-Claude Fontinoy, who was in charge of finance for 12 years.
The socialists are particularly concerned about the numerous cash payments that characterise this case. "The chronology of this affair raises questions: how could someone pay out such large sums in cash over so many years without triggering an alert?" Deputy Hugues Bayet asked. "The question arises even more so when a politically exposed figure is involved! Why did the banks and supervisory bodies remain silent for so long? And above all, where did this money come from?"
"Didier Reynders was MR Minister of Finance for more than ten years," pointed out MP Khalil Aouasti. "During that time, he never strengthened anti-money laundering measures, either in terms of legislation or controls. The fight against major tax fraud was never his priority, preferring DLU (tax regularisation) to the lifting of banking secrecy! This political record, combined with the current spate of revelations, fully justifies the opening of a parliamentary enquiry to shed light on the facts, assess the failings of the banks and propose concrete reforms to combat money laundering."
