French PM’s £15,000 jet to Champions League final: Socialist under fire for leaving his party’s conference to attend match even though no French team was playing
- Manuel Valls, who was born in Barcelona, travelled to see his team play
- Critics said his flight was a waste of taxpayers money amid budgetary cuts
- But he defended the trip, saying he was invited by the UEFA President
France’s Socialist Prime Minister Manuel Valls was under fire yesterday for jetting off in a private jet to watch his beloved Barcelona in the Champions League football final.
The 52-year-old was asked ‘Remind us which French team was playing?’ as he left his party conference in Poitiers to fly 850 miles to Berlin for Saturday’s game.
Critics said the round trip in a private plane cost at least £15,000 and was a waste of taxpayers’ money.
Prime Minister of France Manuel Valls, centre left, pictured with UEFA President Michel Platin, at the Champions League Final. His political opponents have accused him of wasting money during a time of cuts
Mr Valls defended his trip, saying a ‘false debate’ had been created around it. When asked about his decision to take a private plane, he responded: ‘I’m prime minister. You know what forms of transport I use’
Opposition politicians accused him of wasting money during a time of budgetary cuts. Nadine Morano, of the conservative Republicans, tweeted ‘Red card for Manuel Valls, who forgets he is prime minister of France.’
Thierry Solere, another Republican, said Valls had made a ‘political and moral’ error.
Mr Solere added: ‘Public money is precious in a time of crisis and you have to pay attention to symbols and this has sent a very bad signal.’
Florian Philippot of the National Front said: ‘The real question is who is paying?’, after complaining that the game was between ‘two foreign teams’, Barcelona and Juventus of Italy.
It was Christine Boutin, of the Christian Democratic Party, who asked: ‘Remind us which French team was playing?’
Mr Valls defended his trip, saying a ‘false debate’ had been created around it. Referring to one of the greatest French footballers ever, he said: ‘I am going to Berlin at the invitation of Michel Platini, who is the president of Uefa.’
Celebrations in Barcelona on Saturday, after the team won the match. Mr Valls was born in the Spanish city and, as the son of Spanish immigrants, did not gain French citizenship until he was 20 years old
Asked about the hugely expensive private plane, Mr Valls said: ‘I’m prime minister. You know what forms of transport I use’, adding that he returned to Poitiers on Sunday.
Valls was born in Barcelona and as the son of Spanish immigrants did not gain French nationality until he was 20.
Despite this, he is one of the most reactionary politicians in France, especially towards migrants.