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Anne-Claire Legendre Elected to Lead Arab World Institute as Financial Probe Targets Lang

The leadership change coincides with a PNF inquiry into alleged Epstein-linked financial flows, with searches completed and no charges filed to date.

Overview

  • The IMA board elected Anne‑Claire Legendre unanimously on the French state's proposal, making her the institution’s first female president with a mandate to launch audits and tighten governance rules.
  • France’s financial prosecutor opened a preliminary inquiry on February 6 for aggravated tax‑fraud laundering targeting Jack Lang and his daughter Caroline, prompting February 16 searches at the IMA and at Lang’s Paris residence by ONAF and the brigade financière.
  • The probe follows Mediapart’s report that Caroline Lang co‑founded a 2016 offshore company with Jeffrey Epstein, while U.S. documents cite Jack Lang 673 times; he denies wrongdoing and says he has nothing to hide.
  • The Foreign Ministry announced planned reforms including an age cap for future presidents, limits on successive terms, a new ethics and remuneration committee, and stricter conflict‑of‑interest safeguards, alongside an immediate financial and HR audit.
  • The association AC !! Anticorruption filed a new complaint to the PNF alleging additional offenses such as possible embezzlement of public funds and procurement violations as investigators continue evidence‑gathering without bringing charges.