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Day: 9 June 2023

Laurent Anselmi steps down as Prince’ Albert’s chief of staff

by: Cassandra Tanti
09/06/2023

The surprise shake-up of Prince Albert’s closest circle continues, with Chief of Staff Laurent Anselmi to step away from his position. However, he will remain close to the Sovereign, taking on a new role as head of the Academy of the Sea.

Laurent Anselmi, who has been chief of staff to the Prince since January 2022, will leave his post prematurely on 31th June. The Palace announced on Thursday 9th June that on 1st July, the Monegasque will be “entrusted with a steering mission with a view to the creation, in the Principality of Monaco, of an Academy of the Sea.”

The Académie de la Mer, announced by Prince Albert in December 2022, will provide a teaching and training platform, in French, in the subjects of the law of the sea, international and geopolitical relations related to the seas and oceans, as well as marine environmental issues.

“Mr. Anselmi initiated this project, dear to the heart of His Serene Highness, and is already working on its implementation,” said the Palace in a statement.

Anselmi will also retain his position as Secretary General of the Chancellery of Princely Orders.

“I would like to thank Mr. Laurent Anselmi for the loyalty and the sense of State which he has shown throughout the years spent in the service of the Prince’s Government in his capacity as Minister-Counsellor but also within my Cabinet, first as a member of it and then as Head of Cabinet,” said Prince Albert. “I pay tribute to his action, his integrity, the human and professional qualities with which he has always fulfilled his mission.

“I send Mr. Anselmi all my best wishes for success in his new responsibilities. Knowledge of the seas, oceans and the rules that ensure their protection are a major challenge for my country, humanity and future generations”.

The respositioning of Laurent Anselmi follows the early resignation of Prince Albert’s Administrator of Properties Claude Palmero on Wednesday.

The two men are embroiled in ‘The Rock Files’, the anonymous ‘Dossiers du Rocher’ website, launched in 2021, which accuses Prince Albert’s closest entourage of collusion. Among them are the so-called ‘G4’: his chief of staff Laurent Anselmi, his lawyer Thierry Lacoste, President of the Supreme Court Didier Linotte, and Administrator of Assets Claude Palmero.

All have denied any involvement in corruption linked to the Principality’s lucrative real estate sector.

 

SEE ALSO:

Claude Palmero, in charge of Prince Albert’s assets, steps down

 

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Princess Charlene offers Mother’s Day wishes to new mums at the CHPG 

by: Stephanie Horsman
09/06/2023
princess charlene

Princess Charlene spent a morning at the Princess Grace Hospital, where she met and congratulated new mothers on the birth of their gorgeous babies.  

The maternity ward of the Princess Grace Hospital had a very special visitor on Wednesday 7th June, when Princess Charlene made the rounds to meet the newest Monegasques as well as to wish their mothers a happy Mother’s Day.  

The Princess didn’t come empty-handed. She left behind white roses and boxes of chocolates for the mothers as well as layettes for the babies, which were donated by the Monegasque Red Cross.  

As the mother of eight-year-old twins, Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, Charlene was a natural with the little ones and clearly delighted in holding these tiny bundles of joy.  

She would have been amongst the first people to meet newborns Stella, Valentin, Augusto, Giulia and Eliot, all just a few days old. The morning will make a memory forever imprinted on the families and be immortalised in touching photos.  

Monaco’s Princess has been busy of late, opening the summer festivities for her late father-in-law, Prince Rainier III, for his centenary celebrations, as well as attending the Monaco Grand Prix with her family.  

 

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Photo credit: Eric Mathon / Palais Princier de Monaco

Edmund Shing talks AI and investment at Monaco Economic Board event

by: Stephanie Horsman
09/06/2023
edmund shing monaco

The Monaco Economic Board invited finance world heavyweight Edmund Shing to speak at their latest event, the first in a new series of talks that will be led by English speakers.  

The Monaco Economic Board (MEB) is known for being open to new horizons. In their latest event, held on 7th June, they expanded their reach by inviting an English-speaking business leader to take centre stage, the first in what will be a series of events in English.  

“This new series of conferences by guest experts takes account of a reality: Monaco is an international hub where 140 nationalities, residents and employees live together”, says Guillaume Rose, Executive Director General of the MEB. “By organising events in English, the MEB aims to be more representative than ever of the business world of the Principality.” 

edmund shing monaco
Left to right: Eric Aubin, Commercial Director at BNP Paribas Wealth Management; Michel Dotta, President of the MEB; Edmund Shing, Chief Investment Officer responsible for investment strategy at BNP Paribas Wealth Management; Jean Castellini, Monaco’s Minister of Finance and the Economy; and Guillaume Rose, Executive Director General of the MEB. Photo credit: MEB / Carte Blanche

Edmund Shing, Chief Investment Officer responsible for investment strategy at BNP Paribas Wealth Management, kicked off the new format with a two-part talk on two very different topics.  

ABNORMAL FINANCIAL TIMES 

The first half of the evening focused on the world’s current “abnormal” economic state and how it has been affected by recent events such as the pandemic and the war in the Ukraine. Shing spoke on the sudden sharp rise in interest rates, central banks reactions to inflation and the resulting drop in the number of loans available as well as the tensions in labour markets, with never-before-seen employment rates in many countries. 

Against this backdrop, the stock markets continue to perform well, allowing many companies to continue issuing dividends and keep the wheels of commerce rolling, according to Shing.  

CHALLENGES AND AI 

The second part of the presentation looked at investment trends, starting with artificial intelligence (AI). Shing recommended prudence when investing in this hot new technology, citing past bubbles that ultimately burst, leaving some investors to crash and burn.  

Whilst arguing that AI could be a risk if not carefully followed, Shing did note some safer bets, such as gold and rare metals, especially those used in the making of semi-conductors and batteries. He also recommended that the finance, energy and health sectors be considered when looking for a place to invest.  

 

Do you have an event in Monaco or the French Riviera that you would like us to include in our What’s On section and events calendar? Please email editor@monacolife.net.  

 

Photo credit: MEB/Carte Blanche 

Charles Leclerc auction raises nearly €430,000 for Italy’s flood victims

by: Elsa Carpenter
09/06/2023
charles leclerc auction

F1 driver Charles Leclerc has auctioned off his Monaco Grand Prix race kit to raise almost €430,000 for the victims of the Emilia-Romagna floods, which were the worst Italy has seen in 100 years. 

In the days following the Monaco Grand Prix, 25-year-old Scuderia Ferrari driver Leclerc took to social media to announce that he was going to put the gear he wore for the race up for auction in order to raise money for the victims of the recent floods in Emilia-Romagna. 

 

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A post shared by Charles Leclerc (@charles_leclerc)

The items auctioned – his helmet, race suit, gloves and boots – would have had special meaning for the Monegasque driver given that he wore them on home turf. The Bell HP77 helmet was designed by Leclerc himself and was inspired by the helmet his late father, Hervé Leclerc, wore when he raced F3 on the streets of the Principality as a young man.  

It proved to be the most popular lot with bidders and ultimately sold for €306,000, as announced by RM Sotheby’s, which handled the auction. His red and white race suit, the national colours of Monaco, went for €61,200 while the gloves and boots sold for €42,000 and €20,400 respectively. All lots were signed by Leclerc and came complete with a certificate of authenticity.  

“The funds raised from the four items will be directly donated to the Municipality of Imola for all of the most affected territories and cities, which have been devastated by the floods that struck a vast area of the Emilia-Romagna region in Italy, with special attention for families with children who have unfortunately lost their houses,” said a spokesperson for RM Sotheby’s ahead of the auction this week. 

The floods of mid-May, which saw the Italian Grand Prix cancelled, are estimated to have displaced 20,000 people. The Emilia-Romagna region was by far the worst affected part of the country, with more than 40 towns and cities, including Ferrari’s home town of Maranello, impacted by flash floods and landslides. The event is believed to be the worst Italy has experienced in 100 years.  

 

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Photo from Scuderia Ferrari Press Office