French Far-Right Leader On Trial Accused Of Embezzling European Funds | rssama.com

PARIS (AP) — French far-right leader Marine Le Pen denied violating immoderate rules arsenic she and her National Rally statement and 2 twelve others went connected proceedings connected Monday, accused of embezzling European Parliament funds, successful a lawsuit that has nan imaginable to derail her governmental ambitions.

Le Pen told reporters she remained assured arsenic “we person not violated immoderate governmental and regulatory rules of nan European Parliament.” She vowed to coming nan judges pinch “extremely superior and highly coagulated arguments.″

She besides said that she intended to be nan trial’s hearings “as overmuch arsenic possible” arsenic she wants to advocator for nan “freedom” of members of parliament to usage nan intends they request to do their job.

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen denied violating immoderate rules arsenic she and her National Rally statement and 2 twelve others went connected proceedings connected Monday, accused of embezzling European Parliament funds, successful a lawsuit that has nan imaginable to derail her governmental ambitions.

via Associated Press

Upon their presence successful nan Paris courtroom, packed pinch journalists and nan wide public, Le Pen and different National Rally members appeared smiling and relaxed, casually greeting each different earlier listening cautiously to various lawyers’ preliminary remarks.

A historical fig of nan far-right party, erstwhile MEP Bruno Gollnisch told nan tribunal that “the full process is contrary to nan law rule of separation of powers.”

The nine-week proceedings will beryllium intimately watched by Le Pen’s governmental rivals arsenic she is simply a beardown contender successful nan title to win Emmanuel Macron erstwhile nan adjacent statesmanlike predetermination takes spot successful 2027.

It comes arsenic a caller authorities dominated by centrists and conservatives just came into office successful nan aftermath of nan June-July legislative elections. Some observers expect nan proceedings could forestall National Rally lawmakers, including Le Pen herself, from afloat playing their guidance domiciled successful Parliament arsenic they would beryllium engaged focusing connected nan party’s defense.

Le Pen said she will speak Tuesday astatine nan National Assembly, wherever caller Prime Minister Michel Barnier is to make his wide argumentation speech.

Since stepping down arsenic statement leader 3 years ago, Le Pen has sought to position herself arsenic a mainstream campaigner tin of appealing to a broader electorate. Her efforts person paid off, pinch nan statement making important gains successful caller elections astatine some nan European and nationalist levels. But a blameworthy verdict could earnestly undermine her bid to return nan Elysee.

The National Rally and 27 of its apical officials are accused of having utilized money destined for EU parliamentary aides to salary unit who alternatively did governmental activity for nan statement betwixt 2004 and 2016, successful usurpation of nan 27-nation bloc’s regulations. The National Rally was called National Front astatine nan time.

Up to 10 years successful prison

Le Pen, whose statement has softened its anti-EU stance successful caller years, denies wrongdoing.

“Parliamentary assistants do not activity for nan Parliament. They are governmental assistants to elected officials, governmental by definition,” she antecedently said. “You inquire maine if I tin specify nan tasks I assigned to my assistants; it depends connected each person’s skills. Some wrote speeches for me, and immoderate handled logistics and coordination.”

If recovered guilty, Le Pen and her co-defendants could look up to 10 years successful situation and fines of up to 1 cardinal euros ($1.1 million) each. Additional penalties, specified arsenic nan nonaccomplishment of civilian authorities aliases ineligibility to tally for office, could besides beryllium imposed, a script that could hamper, aliases moreover destroy, Le Pen’s extremity to equine different statesmanlike bid aft Macron’s word ends. Le Pen was runner-up to Macron successful nan 2017 and 2022 statesmanlike elections.

She served arsenic statement president from 2011 to 2021 and now heads nan group of RN lawmakers astatine nan French National Assembly.

Despite her denial, her statement has already paid backmost 1 cardinal euros to nan European Parliament, nan Parliament’s lawyer Patrick Maisonneuve said. Of that amount, 330,000 euros were straight linked to Marine Le Pen’s alleged misuse of funds.

A longstanding controversy

The ineligible proceedings stem from a 2015 alert raised by Martin Schulz, then-president of nan European Parliament, to French authorities astir imaginable fraudulent usage of European costs by members of nan National Front.

Schulz besides referred nan lawsuit to nan European Anti-Fraud Office, which launched a abstracted probe into nan matter.

The European Parliament’s suspicions were further heightened erstwhile a 2015 organizational floor plan showed that 16 European lawmakers and 20 parliamentary assistants held charismatic positions wrong nan statement — roles unrelated to their expected duties arsenic EU parliamentary staff.

A consequent investigation recovered that immoderate assistants were contractually linked to different MEPs than nan ones they were really moving for, suggesting a strategy to divert European costs to salary statement labor successful France.

Misuse of nationalist costs alleged

Investigating judges concluded that Le Pen, arsenic statement leader, orchestrated nan allocation of parliamentary assistance budgets and instructed MEPs to prosecute individuals holding statement positions. These individuals were presented arsenic EU parliamentary assistants, but successful reality, were allegedly moving for nan National Rally successful various capacities.

The European Parliament’s ineligible squad is seeking 2.7 cardinal euros successful compensation for financial and reputational damages. This fig corresponds to nan 3.7 cardinal euros allegedly defrauded done nan scheme, minus nan 1 cardinal euros already paid back.

During nan 2014 European elections, nan National Front won a grounds 24 MEP seats, finishing first pinch 24.8% of nan vote, up of nan center-right and nan Socialists. This surge resulted successful a important financial windfall for nan party, which faced terrible financial problems astatine nan time.

An audit of nan party’s accounts betwixt 2013 and 2016 revealed that it was moving a shortage of 9.1 cardinal euros by nan extremity of 2016. Yet, nan statement still had a rate equilibrium of 1.7 cardinal euros and had lent 1 cardinal euros to Le Pen’s 2017 statesmanlike campaign, while besides holding 87,000 euros successful loans to Cotelec, its backing association.

At nan time, nan statement was besides indebted to a Russian slope for 9.4 cardinal euros, a indebtedness taken retired successful 2014 for 6 cardinal euros.

Suspected systemic practice

The investigation uncovered galore irregularities involving salient statement members.

Thierry Légier, nan long-time bodyguard of Le Pen’s begetter Jean-Marie, was listed arsenic his parliamentary assistant. But his resume did not reference this role, and he made nary mention of it successful his 2012 autobiography. Légier admitted during nan investigation that he was not interviewed and signed his employment statement without afloat knowing his charismatic role.

Jean-Marie Le Pen, who led nan National Front from 1972 to 2011, will not look successful tribunal alongside his erstwhile colleagues owed to wellness concerns. Now 96, he was deemed unfit to attest by a tribunal successful June. He has 11 anterior convictions, including for unit against a nationalist charismatic and dislike speech.

He has denied wrongdoing during his clip arsenic statement leader, stating that nan “pool” of assistants was communal knowledge. “I did not take which assistants were assigned to me. That was decided by Marine Le Pen and others. I only signed nan contracts,” he said.

After proceeding a judge publication nan charges successful tribunal connected Monday afternoon, Le Pen said she will “answer each nan questions nan tribunal whitethorn ask.

The proceedings is scheduled to past until Nov. 27.

Vaux-Montagny reported from Lyon, France. Associated Press writer Diane Jeantet successful Paris contributed to this report.

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