The Valais has long been buzzing with rumours. In October 2013, the media began reporting on Dominique Giroud's troubles with the tax authorities. Since then, the rumours have turned into accusations. In the poisonous climate that surrounds his figure, we no longer wonder how Dominique Giroud managed to succeed. In the café du commerce and in off-the-record discussions with journalists, accusations abound: "he couldn't have succeeded on his own, he had help, he must have benefited from hidden financial support, whether from Russian oligarchs or from Ecône". The journalists quoted here will recognise themselves. Never verified, never supported by any facts, these suspicions feed other suspicions: the tax evasion for which Dominique Giroud was convicted is just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, he may have much more serious things to hide. The word is out: "Laundering! (Here too, journalists will recognise themselves). Dominique Giroud's entire defence and the legal proceedings he is launching have only one objective: to prevent any light being shed on "money laundering" operations. Dominique Giroud has allowed himself to be convinced that transparency about his business model is the only way to put an end to the slander, which is why he agreed to answer questions from Balance sheet.