Paris, France – Greenpeace France, anti-corruption group ANTICOR and the student association La Sphinx cited TOTAL CEO Patrick Pouyann\u00e9 for conflict of interest, pushing the company\u2019s fossil fuels agenda through the prestigious French technology and science university \u201c\u00c9cole Polytechnique\u201d. [1]\u00a0 Evidence indicates that Pouyann\u00e9 used his position as member of the Board of directors of the Polytechnique to influence, on behalf of Total, the Board\u2019s decision to establish a research and innovation center for the company Total, in the heart of its campus. The groups say Prosecutors specialised in financial crimes should investigate.<\/p>\n\n
TOTAL is among the top 20 global fossil fuel companies whose joint exploitation of global oil, gas and coal resources can be directly linked to more than a third of all greenhouse gas emissions in our times. [2]<\/p>\n\n
\u201cTOTAL is pursuing its climate-killing agenda and seems ready to use questionable means to establish the social acceptability of its dirty business. The current generations of students are increasingly reluctant to work in the fossil fuel sector, and to support the company\u2019s vested interests. We ask the Prosecutor to investigate whether Pouyann\u00e9 abused his power to force TOTAL\u2019s fossil fuels agenda on a public education institution,\u201d said Edina Iftic\u00e8ne, oil campaigner at Greenpeace France.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Professors, students and alumni of \u00c9cole Polytechnique, and Greenpeace France have opposed this initiative, which is the result of an attempt by the oil giant to intrude into the prestigious school through a decision-making process lacking transparency.[3]<\/p>\n\n Patrick Pouyann\u00e9 was appointed to the Board of directors of the school in September 2018, while a strategic partnership was being discussed between his company and the school. During his term of office, Pouyann\u00e9 addressed the Polytechnique\u2019s Board on behalf of TOTAL to advance the company’s interest in the project, its preference regarding the location and speed of implementation. The company refused to abandon the project despite opposition from students and teachers. The Board gave the green light to proceed on 25 June 2020, and on 30 September 2020 the association La Sphinx filed a request to revoke the decision. The case is ongoing before the Administrative Court of Versailles.<\/p>\n\n “The complaint is intended to shed light on the possible diversion of a public institution’s interests to serve private interests, those of Patrick Pouyann\u00e9 and Total,” said Matthieu Lequesne of the La Sphinx association, representing students and alumni of the Polytechnique<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n The 12,000 square metre building project is expected to host for over 50 years several hundreds of company\u2019s employees in the heart of the campus of the elite educational and research centre, which trains decision-makers intended for senior public administrative positions.<\/p>\n\n ENDS<\/p>\n\n Notes to editor:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n [1] <\/strong>On 20 April 2021, Greenpeace France, anti-corruption group ANTICOR and La Sphinx, representing former students of the Polytechnique, filed a complaint with the Prosecution Office in Paris against TOTAL CEO Patrick Pouyann\u00e9 and others unknown for facts likely to constitute the offense of \u201cillegal taking of interests\u201d (in French : prise ill\u00e9gale d\u2019int\u00e9r\u00eats). <\/p>\n\n The \u201cillegal taking of interests\u201d (\u201cprise ill\u00e9gale d\u2019int\u00e9r\u00eat<\/em>\u201d) implies that a person in charge of a public service mission has a private interest in a public project that s\/he has tried to influence. According to French case law, the influence can result from the power to express personal opinions before decisions are taken by others. <\/p>\n\n [2] https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2019\/oct\/09\/revealed-20-firms-third-carbon-emissions<\/a><\/p>\n\n [3] Since March 31, Greenpeace France has been publishing a documentary series \u201cTotal Grip\u201d<\/a>, which reviews Total’s strategy of influence and soft power, particularly within the “Grandes Ecoles\u201d which groom France’s future decision-makers.<\/p>\n\n Contacts:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Greenpeace France, Edina Ifticene \/ C\u00e9cile Cailliez: 0033 6 13 07 04 29<\/p>\n\n Greenpeace France, Clara Gonzales, lawyer: 0033 6 37 57 39 44 \/ clara.gonzales@greenpeace.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n Anticor, communication department, communication@anticor.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n La Sphinx, Matthieu Lequesne \/ Thomas Vezin: total@la-sphinx.fr<\/a><\/p>\n\n