Justice is getting closer to the National Rally and its members: the Paris prosecutor’s office has recommended that a trial be held for the party and 27 people linked to it, including Marine Le Pen and her father. The accusations relate to possible embezzlement of European public funds between 2004 and 2016.
The case concerns the payment of salaries to parliamentary assistants, some of whom actually worked for the political party. The prosecution is requesting a trial for 11 people who were elected MEPs, 12 parliamentary assistants and 4 party collaborators. The list of people involved includes major figures from the National Rally, such as Louis Aliot, Bruno Gollnisch and Nicolas Bay.
The prosecution emphasizes that the penalties incurred are up to 10 years of imprisonment and a maximum fine of one million euros. In addition, deprivation of the right of eligibility for a period of 5 to 10 years may also be imposed.
This legal episode, which began in 2015 following an investigation by the European Parliament into possible irregularities, highlights the suspicions weighing on the National Rally concerning an orchestrated system of misappropriation of European Union funds intended for the remuneration of assistants parliamentarians.
The damage estimated by the European Parliament would amount to 6.8 million euros for the years 2009 to 2017.
Marine Le Pen has always denied any offense in this affair. The trial, if it takes place, could be a crucial moment for the National Rally and its members.
It is important to emphasize that until the verdict has been rendered, the persons concerned are presumed innocent. However, the implications of this affair are significant and could have major consequences for the National Rally and the French political scene as a whole.
The affair of the misappropriation of European public funds continues to make headlines and we will not fail to follow the developments of this affair closely. Stay tuned for the latest news.
Sources:
-https://www.france24.com/fr/europe/2023216-france-troubles-financiers-fachosph%C3%A8re-vague-de-a-new-reveil-national
-https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2023/09/29/le-parquet-demande-un-proces-pour-le-rassemblement-national-et-27-individuals_6135497_823448.html