France's far-right National Front (FN) called Friday for Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius to resign after US authorities issued an arrest warrant against his son for allegedly writing dud cheques at a Las Vegas casino.
Thomas Fabius wrote cheques for more than $3.5 million (3.2 million euros) to cover gambling debts on the night of May 15, 2012, according to an arrest warrant obtained Thursday by AFP.
His father, a former Socialist prime minister, was officially appointed France's foreign minister on May 16, 2012.
"The National Front believes that the arrest warrant issued in the United States against the son of the French foreign minister means the latter cannot keep his job," the party led by Marine Le Pen said in a statement.
The arrest warrant, the party argued, compromised Laurent Fabius because there was a danger that "personal considerations... could get in the way of the actions of a minister who regularly has to discuss with and negotiate with the United States on matters of the upmost importance".
A spokesman for Nevada's Clark County said that the warrant, issued May 2013, means the younger Fabius risks arrest if he sets foot in the United States.
Thomas Fabius, 33, who heads a financial consulting firm, has been reported to have spent millions of dollars in casinos in the past and was investigated in 2013 for fraud and money laundering over a real-estate deal.
His father, who on Friday was taking part in negotiations on the Syrian war in Vienna, has not commented.
Campaigning on an anti-immigration agenda, the FN is riding high in opinion polls. It is aiming to win control of a northern region of France in elections next month.
France’s far-right National Front (FN) called Friday for Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius to resign after US authorities issued an arrest warrant against his son for allegedly writing dud cheques at a Las Vegas casino.
Thomas Fabius wrote cheques for more than $3.5 million (3.2 million euros) to cover gambling debts on the night of May 15, 2012, according to an arrest warrant obtained Thursday by AFP.
His father, a former Socialist prime minister, was officially appointed France’s foreign minister on May 16, 2012.
“The National Front believes that the arrest warrant issued in the United States against the son of the French foreign minister means the latter cannot keep his job,” the party led by Marine Le Pen said in a statement.
The arrest warrant, the party argued, compromised Laurent Fabius because there was a danger that “personal considerations… could get in the way of the actions of a minister who regularly has to discuss with and negotiate with the United States on matters of the upmost importance”.
A spokesman for Nevada’s Clark County said that the warrant, issued May 2013, means the younger Fabius risks arrest if he sets foot in the United States.
Thomas Fabius, 33, who heads a financial consulting firm, has been reported to have spent millions of dollars in casinos in the past and was investigated in 2013 for fraud and money laundering over a real-estate deal.
His father, who on Friday was taking part in negotiations on the Syrian war in Vienna, has not commented.
Campaigning on an anti-immigration agenda, the FN is riding high in opinion polls. It is aiming to win control of a northern region of France in elections next month.
