Hollande aide quits over high lifestyle claims

A close adviser to François Hollande has resigned after allegations about an alleged conflict of interest and his extravagant lifestyle, in a fresh blow to the beleaguered French president.

Senior political adviser Aquilino Morelle said he was stepping down but denied any wrongdoing.

“In the last 48 hours I have had to deal with insinuations and allegations calling my honour into question,” he said. “I want to reiterate that I committed no fault. I was never in a situation of conflict of interest,” Morelle said.

“Nonetheless, I have decided to put an end to my duties as an adviser to the presidency of the republic... to be entirely free to respond to these attacks.”

Investigative website Mediapart revealed that he breached ethical guidelines for public servants by doing work for pharmaceutical companies in 2007 while he was a senior official in the ministry for social affairs.

Concerns had also been raised about Morelle’s alleged extravagance at the presidential Elysee Palace, at a time when Hollande’s government is asking voters to accept cuts to rein in the country’s deficit.

Mediapart reported that Morelle, the head of Hollande’s communications operation, maintains a collection of 30 pairs of hand-made shoes at the Elysee that are professionally polished every two months.

His taste for the best things in life also reportedly led to him regularly raiding the palace’s wine cellar for fine vintages to accompany working lunches. Morelle has not contested the accuracy of the shoes revelation.