Marine Le Pen described, on Friday, November 15, the prosecutor’s searches against her during the trial of the FN parliamentary assistants as “very violent attack on democracy”. “It is my political death that is demanded”considered the president of the parliamentary group of the National Rally (RN) in the National Assembly during an interview with journalist Anne-Claire Coudray on the television news program TF1.
The prosecution, trying Marine Le Pen in ” center “ of a “organized system” destined to turn the European Parliament into the “cash cow” of the FN, issued severe requisitions against him on Wednesday: five years in prison, three of which with a suspended sentence, a fine of 300,000 euros and five years of disqualification with provisional execution – that is, with immediate application even on appeal – If the judges follow the prosecutors, it could prevent him from running in the next presidential elections.
After rehearsing his line of defense – “We are innocent of the acts accused of us, we have not violated any French law or any regulation of the European Parliament” –,METROme Le Pen said: “I realized that it was not the litigant who was being judged, that it was the political objective that was being judged (…) But, beyond me, it is the French people who are actually prevented (…) Vote for the candidate you want.”. Before continuing: “I come today to tell the French that the idea that through a decision, once again, irreparable, not subject to appeal, we can deprive them of their choice is a very violent attack on democracy. The simple fact that we can consider it, because I remind you anyway that the accusation is not independent. »
“What is demanded is my political death. So, by definition, my political survival will obviously depend on the implementation of this political death sentence, with provisional execution or not, of course, and this is, I think, the goal from the beginning.estimated. Asked about the desire to “put pressure on justice”while the RN notably launched an online petition to protest against these requests from the prosecution, Marine Le Pen responded: “Never”.
“Violation of basic rules” for the accusation
Twenty-five people, including Marine Le Pen, have been on trial since September 30 before the Paris Criminal Court. It is suspected that they have created, between 2004 and 2016, a “diversion system” money paid by the European Union (EU) for the hiring of parliamentary collaborators, in order to finance the political activities of the far-right party. Damage estimated at almost 7 million euros by the European Parliament.
During the prosecution’s indictment, prosecutor Louise Neyton especially highlighted “the absolutely unprecedented aspect of this matter, due to its magnitude, which amounts to millions of euros, fifteen times more than the MoDem matter; its duration, which extends over twelve years, three legislatures and probably even before; and its organized and systemic character. This is a true war machine, promoted by the party leadership, to finance the FN and its growth, violating basic rules. The European Parliament was its source of income. “This profound and lasting attack on the rules of the democratic game demands an exemplary response.”.
According to the prosecution, Marine Le Pen is not only the author of the events, for having hired four fictitious assistants, but also “accomplice by instigation”as president, at that time, of the FN. “She is at the center of the decision, she has a central role”Prosecutor Nicolás Barret insisted. AND “there was a direct interest on the part of those primarily responsible, and personal enrichment on the part of those close to them, continued Louise Neyton, to maintain a comfortable lifestyle for Marine Le Pen’s friends, 4,000 to 5,000 euros a month for her sister, her faithful secretary and ambitious young people.” his “close guard.”
Starting Monday, the arguments of the defense lawyers of Marine Le Pen and the other 24 defendants will be delivered. The end of the trial is scheduled for November 27: the court will announce the date of its decision and then enter into deliberations. The sentence is not expected for several months, early 2025.
