Jérôme Cahuzac

French budget minister files defamation suit against Mediapart

France — Link

French budget minister Jérôme Cahuzachas announced he is to sue Mediapart over its report that he held a secret Swiss bank account until 2010.

The French budget minister and his secret Swiss bank account

France — Investigation

French budget minister Jérôme Cahuzac (pictured), who last month announced his ministry was launching a crackdown on tax fraud, held for several years a secret bank account in Switzerland, Mediapart can reveal. The funds held in the UBS account were, after it was closed in 2010, allegedly then transferred to Singapore. In an interview with Mediapart, Cahuzac has denied ever holding an account in Switzerland, while threatening legal action if the suggestion that he had was published, which Mediapart does indeed do here. Fabrice Arfi reports.

Cash-strapped France may halt high-speed train expansion

France — Link

France may abandon plans for a major extension of its high-speed train network as the new left-wing government strives to shrink its huge debt.