Former French Health Minister Agnes Bouzen has launched a preliminary investigation into her handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to Reuters, this is one of the first cases in the world where a high-ranking government official is held accountable for the way he managed the pandemic.
Bouzen was Minister of Health from May 2017 until February 2020. She resigned at the beginning of the pandemic to run for mayor of Paris, but was defeated and appointed to the World Health Organization in early January.
The case is being investigated by the special Court of the Republic, which is examining any criminal responsibilities of the ministers. At the heart of the research are the questions that have been asked in many countries: was the government adequately prepared to deal with the pandemic? And did the successive changes in its policy, including the use of the mask, reflect the evolution of scientific data or was it a sign of political inadequacy?
Preliminary research is just a first step. The judges will decide whether to pursue the case or file it. In the coming weeks, Bouzen's successor, Olivier Veran, is expected to be summoned to testify.
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