The Le Pen party and allies could twist EUR 4 million from the EP

The French daily “Le Monde” said on Thursday that the now defunct identity and democracy (ID) in the European Parliament could have committed financial irregularities for over EUR 4 million. This group belonged, among others National Union (RN), former National Front Marine Le Pen.

The extreme right-wing ID group existed in the European Parliament in 2019-2024. In addition to the RN, she focused, among others The extreme right -wing alternative to Germany (AfD) and probably the findings described by “Le Monde” were also published by German media. Journalists refer to a confidential financial report at the EP, which was created after routine control of ID accounts and accounts in connection with the solution to this group.

The document wrote about alleged financial irregularities in the amount of at least EUR 4.33 million. According to “Le Monde” “, a significant part of this amount was used by former radical activists close to Marine Le Pen”, as well as organizations “often similar to deputies” and those who were close to the goals of the extreme right.

In this context, the daily mentions two entities: Unanime and E-Politic. According to journalists, the first of these companies won a tender in 2020, which they even did not officially compete and in which there were no other candidates. The second company, e-politic, dealt with, among others social media of the ID group. According to the PE inspectors, there were “serious problems regarding the compliance with the public procurement procedure”, and the “principles of proper financial management” were not met, “Le Monde” said.

The report will be presented to the Financial Control Committee. If its findings are accepted, there is a possibility that the case will be transferred to the European Office for combating financial abuse (OLAF).

Former ID chairman Philip Claeys said “Le Monde” that the claims contained in the report are inaccurate. “Bills have been issued for all payments in the last five years, they have been justified and inspected,” said Claeys.

Marine Le Pen said on Thursday on the RTL radio that she was not familiar with the case and at the time of any “administrative disputes from the EP” an attempt will be made to solve them.

In the past, the MEPs of the National Front were the object of proceedings in the EP in connection with facts from 2004-2016. The PE investigation showed that at that time the FN MEPs employed people who were actually party officers in the PE, and did not provide work for the MEPs, which is required by EU regulations. This case then came to the French justice system.

On March 31, the Court in Paris found a total of over 20 extreme right activists in the case of fictitious employment of assistants in the EP. Le Pen received a judgment of four years imprisonment, including two suspension, as well as a five -year ban on applying for public functions. This means that Le Pen will not be able to start in the presidential election in the spring of 2027, unless the ban is repealed by the Court of Appeal by then. The leader of the extreme right questions this judgment.

From Paris Anna Wróbel (PAP)

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