The former first secretary of the Socialist Party and one-time presidential hopeful Martine Aubry has recently made a return to national politics in France. In a series of media interventions the mayor of the northern city of Lille has made clear her dismay at the direction taken by François Hollande's socialist government. But Aubry's return to frontline politics could yet be overshadowed by a judicial investigation into how a false document was used to justify the award of a multi-million euro contract to build a major sports stadium in Lille that will feature in the Euro 2016 football tournament. Though the investigation was recently and unexpectedly closed, Mediapart can now reveal the existence of an embarrassing letter written by Martine Aubry that shows she passed on the fraudulent document to councillors. Geoffrey Livolsi reports.
Mail order giant La Redoute was once a financial cash cow, a brand known for its glossy catalogues, dominant industry position and massive workforce. Not any more. Its billionaire owner François-Henri Pinault from the Kering luxury goods group has finally managed to sell the ailing firm for a euro in a management buy-out. The controversial deal, which will lead to the shedding of more than a thousand jobs, has split unions, the workforce and the towns in northern France where the company is based. Even those workers who will keep their jobs have been warned they will have to work harder and get paid less. Rachida El Azzouzi talks to union representatives and workers, many of whom feel they have been betrayed by one of France's wealthiest men.
Magistrates investigating a secret prostitution ring that allegedly staged orgies in luxury hotels and apartments in France and the US for the benefit of former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn this month announced the completion of their two years of enquiries. The bringing of formal charges and the setting of a trial date will be decided this summer. Mediapart has gained access to a court document that details the case against Strauss-Kahn and others placed under investigation alongside him, extracts of which are published here. The investigating magistrates conclude that Strauss-Kahn was the kingpin in the organisation of the orgies which were paid for by a group of associates based in the city of Lille in northern France, and who included businessmen, a ranking police officer and a lawyer. Michel Deléan reports.
