A European Union anti-fraud company report alleges that Marine Le Pen misappropriated public cash whereas she was a member of the European Parliament (MEP).
French prosecutors have mentioned they’re analyzing a report by the European Union’s anti-fraud company that accuses far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen and members of her celebration of misappropriating European Parliament funds.
On Sunday, the Paris prosecutor’s workplace confirmed it was finding out a report it acquired from the European Anti-Fraud Workplace (OLAF) on March 11.
The report, in keeping with French information platform Mediapart, alleges that Le Pen personally misappropriated about 137,000 euros ($148,000) of public cash from the Strasbourg-based European Parliament throughout her time as an MEP between 2004 and 2017.
A supply mentioned the European Parliament had referred the case to OLAF after uncovering among the alleged irregularities.
“In complete, we’re speaking about 617,000 euros ($667,100) wrongfully paid. We’ll now proceed with restoration [of the money] from the events within the coming weeks,” the supply added.
Le Pen’s workplace couldn’t instantly be reached for remark.
Denying expenses
OLAF’s investigation has been open since 2016 and Le Pen was questioned by put up in March 2021, her lawyer Rodolphe Bosselut instructed AFP.
Talking to BFM TV, Bosselut mentioned his consumer denied the fees. He mentioned Le Pen had but to be questioned and neither he nor his consumer had seen the OLAF report.
Le Pen was investigated beforehand over suspicions of using fictional celebration assistants within the European Parliament.
The upcoming motion in opposition to the Nationwide Rally celebration presidential candidate comes as polls give her a powerful likelihood of beating French President Emmanuel Macron within the second spherical of France’s presidential election on April 24.
“The French won’t be fooled by makes an attempt of the European Union and the European establishments … to intervene within the presidential marketing campaign and hurt Marine Le Pen,” Nationwide Rally President Jordan Bardella instructed Europe 1 radio.
Bardella mentioned his celebration had filed two authorized complaints in opposition to OLAF, and that it might be submitting a 3rd in response to the report.