"Bourgi had said they were bought for €75,000 and €50,000 but de Villepin's entourage estimated that the price was 'four to five times lower'."
"'The appraisal carried out by one of the best French specialists, accredited by the courts, established that the market value of these works could be estimated at between €18,000 and €20,000 for one, and between €10,000 and €12,000 for the other,' the source said."
"'His entourage insisted the accusations against him were manoeuvres aimed at settling political scores and creating a smokescreen at a time when (former president Nicolas Sarkozy) is once again facing the courts.'"
Dominique de Villepin returned two Napoleon statuettes, disputing their estimated value of nearly €125,000. Lobbyist Robert Bourgi claimed he facilitated their acquisition from Burkina Faso's former president. De Villepin's entourage estimated the statuettes' worth significantly lower, between €18,000 and €20,000 for one and €10,000 and €12,000 for the other. De Villepin believed the statuettes were gifts and denied knowledge of their origins. His team suggested the accusations were politically motivated, linked to former president Nicolas Sarkozy, with whom de Villepin has a contentious history.
#dominique-de-villepin #napoleon-statuettes #political-tensions #robert-bourgi #2027-presidential-election
Read at The Local France
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