Philippe Douste-Blazy returns to the spotlight. Former mayor of Toulouse and ex-Minister of Health, he is making headlines for a possible tax evasion. The suspicions concern the acquisition of two luxury cars between 2021 and 2023. The investigation reveals the existence of a financial scheme based in Andorra, a small state with a VAT rate of 4.5%. A dealer from the Var is said to have set up fictitious contracts, allowing the avoidance of French VAT and the ecological penalty.
However, the investigations do not concern only the ex-minister. The gendarmes of the Brignoles brigade suspect an organized network, active in the importation of high-end vehicles. According to their information, several wealthy clients have used the same method: registering their cars in Andorra, where taxation is more advantageous, then driving them freely on French roads. The dealer, arrested on March 18, is being prosecuted for money laundering of tax fraud. He is said to have orchestrated schemes aimed at maximizing the benefits of this tax optimization.
The mechanics of a prestige dealer
According to the investigation, the cars were purchased in the name of Andorran companies and then registered in the principality. Clients would then sign fictitious rental or loan contracts. This process allowed them to avoid the ecological penalty. This penalty is particularly high for these sports models. Moreover, it allowed them to benefit from a reduced VAT rate. The amounts saved could amount to several tens of thousands of euros.
Some files mention a company based in Dubai. The financial flows transited there before returning to European accounts. Investigators are trying to determine if other luxury products, outside of automobiles, were involved. The Research Brigade of Brignoles is collaborating with Europol to determine the exact scope of this international network.
A touch of humor in the storm
It didn’t take long for commentators to seize the affair. Seeing a former minister driving a Porsche fuels satire. Observers recall that Philippe Douste-Blazy has always assumed a certain taste for prestige objects. Others joke about the image of Andorra, regularly referred to as the "tax haven of the Pyrenees." A local anecdote claims there are more sports cars than traffic lights.
This humorous tone should not, however, overshadow the seriousness of the accusations. The investigation extends to several influential people. Judges want to know if these buyers were fully aware of circumventing tax regulations. The affair thus takes on a media dimension, due to the particular status of a former political leader.
The Douste-Blazy case
Former UN Assistant Secretary-General, Philippe Douste-Blazy has already been the subject of controversies during the Mediator affair and around hydroxychloroquine. Today, his lawyer, Maître Pierre Debuisson, refutes the idea of tax fraud. He mentions a “legal and transparent” transaction, assuring that his client has paid all the amounts. The invoices communicated by Mediapart (www.mediapart.fr) however indicate two Porsches purchased via an Andorran company. For the first, it is said to be more than 150,000 euros, and for the second, about 235,000 euros.
The gendarmes believe that the ex-minister would have saved more than 23,000 euros on the first invoice. Moreover, this does not include the ecological penalty related to CO₂ emissions. Douste-Blazy’s defense, on the other hand, mentions a simple optimization and denies any criminal act. This argument does not convince the detractors, who see it as a striking example of abuse of tax loopholes.
Controversy and expanded investigation
Beyond Douste-Blazy’s personal responsibility, the question of the ethics of former ministers arises. Many denounce a lack of transparency once they leave the political scene. Supporters of the ex-minister respond that he is free to manage his assets as he sees fit.
The judicial court of Draguignan remains mobilized to determine if this case constitutes a characterized offense. Otherwise, it might be a creative use of the tax differences between France and Andorra. The French customs, for their part, wish to strengthen their controls to limit these practices. Cooperation with Andorra, and potentially with Dubai, proves essential. Investigations continue to clarify whether we are facing an organized fraud. Otherwise, it could be simple isolated schemes.
A finale tinged with caution
Despite the media storm, Philippe Douste-Blazy retains his right to the presumption of innocence. Authorities must still gather all the evidence. The scandal, however, once again highlights the permeability of tax borders and the persistence of contested practices.
The Andorran tax system attracts fortunes seeking discretion thanks to its reduced VAT rate. However, it finds itself in the spotlight. Experts emphasize the need to intensify the fight against tax evasion. In this context, the Douste-Blazy affair serves as an example to encourage governments to close legal loopholes. It remains to be seen if this case will lead to prosecutions. Otherwise, it will only fuel the debate on the morality of tax optimizations.