Seven members of an allegedly corrupt electoral system put in place by the well-known billionaire industrialist Serge Dassault in a town south-east of Paris, including the current mayor, are to stand trial. Ordering the court hearing, investigating judge Serge Tournaire referred to an “unprecedented” level of election corruption, including vote-buying. Mediapart's Yann Philippin, who has co-written a book on the subject, reports on how the details of what has been dubbed the “Dassault System” are finally to be heard in a courtroom.
When the prominent French billionaire industrialist Serge Dassault died in March 2018 at the age of 93 it meant he escaped the clutches of the law. But the alleged system of electoral corruption - dubbed by some the “Dassault System” - that he put in place in the town of Corbeil-Essonnes south of Paris where he was mayor for many years is still set to have its day in court.
