Offshore tax havens rocked by bank account leaks

The offshore financial industry was hit in April 2013 by leak of the details of 2.5m secret bank accounts of companies and nationals in 170 countries to 86 journalists worldwide, under the leadership of the International Consortium of investigative journalism.

The revelations come shortly after the resignation of the French Finance Minister Jérôme Cahuzac on 19 March 2013, apparently over a secret bank account he held in Switzerland. Jean-Jacques Augier, President François Hollande's campaign co-treasurer and close friend, was also forced to publicly identify a Chinese business partner in April 2013.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Europe plans action on corporate tax avoidance http://www.europeansources.info/record/europe-plans-action-on-corporate-tax-avoidance/

EUObserver, 04.04.13: France in turmoil over tax-dodging minister http://euobserver.com/political/119683

BBC News, 04.04.13: France's President Hollande fights tax scandal http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22027376

The Guardian, 04.04.13: Offshore secrets revealed: the shadowy side of a booming industry http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/nov/25/offshore-secrets-revealed-shadowy-side

France 24, 04.04.13: French ex-minister admits lying about Swiss account http://www.france24.com/en/20130402-ex-france-budget-minister-admits-lying-over-secret-swiss-account-cahuzac-hollande

Le Monde, 04.04.13: Tax havens are killing our democracies (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/3631261-tax-havens-are-killing-our-democracies

Spiegel Online International, 04.04.13: Tax Scandal: Ex Budget Minister's Failings Threaten French Government http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/cahuzac-tax-evasion-scandal-threatens-french-government-a-892547.html

France24, 05.04.13: The cosmetic surgeon-turned -minister who fooled France http://www.france24.com/en/20130404-cosmetic-surgeon-socialist-budget-minister-france-cahuzac?

France24, 04.04.13: Aide’s Cayman investments add to Hollande's woes http://www.france24.com/en/20130404-hollande-augier-cahuzac-cayman-tax-haven

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 05.04.13: To avoid another Cyprus style crisis, the EU must understand how it helps to create tax havens http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2013/04/05/how-eu-creates-tax-havens/

BBC News, 05.04.13: Germany's Schaeuble welcomes data on global tax evasion http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22038249

PressEurop, 05.04.13: The Great Evasion (editorial) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/editorial/3636561-great-evasion

France24, 13.04.13: EU’s biggest states vow to fight tax evasion http://www.france24.com/en/20130413-eu-finance-ministers-tax-evasion-dublin

France 24, 17.04.13: Disgraced French minister gives up parliament seat http://www.france24.com/en/20130416-disgraced-french-ex-minister-gives-parliament-seat

EUObserver, 07.01.14: The year that almost saw a clampdown on tax evasion http://euobserver.com/economic/122210

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