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Marine Le Pen's Front National headquarters raided by police Marine Le Pen's Front National headquarters raided by police
(35 minutes later)
French police were searching the headquarters of Marine Le Pen’s far-right Front National west of Paris on Monday in relation to an investigation into the alleged misuse of European Union funds to pay parliamentary assistants, an FN official told Reuters.French police were searching the headquarters of Marine Le Pen’s far-right Front National west of Paris on Monday in relation to an investigation into the alleged misuse of European Union funds to pay parliamentary assistants, an FN official told Reuters.
The European parliament has said that, in her role as FN leader during the 2011-12 legislature, Le Pen paid party staff with EU funds, which EU rules say should be used only to pay EU lawmakers’ assistants.The European parliament has said that, in her role as FN leader during the 2011-12 legislature, Le Pen paid party staff with EU funds, which EU rules say should be used only to pay EU lawmakers’ assistants.
Le Pen, who polls show could make it to the final round of the French presidential election in May, has denied the allegations of fraud and said she would not “submit to persecution” by repaying the money.Le Pen, who polls show could make it to the final round of the French presidential election in May, has denied the allegations of fraud and said she would not “submit to persecution” by repaying the money.
“It looks on the face of it like a media operation whose goal is to disturb the course of the presidential campaign,” the FN said in a statement.“It looks on the face of it like a media operation whose goal is to disturb the course of the presidential campaign,” the FN said in a statement.
Earlier this month Le Pen refused the demand to repay nearly €300,000 (£258,000) of EU funds that a European parliament investigation alleged she misspent. An opinion poll on Monday put Le Pen seven points clear of the centrist outsider Emmanuel Macron and his conservative rival François Fillon, who are tied on 20%, in the first round. But the Front National leader would lose to both Macron and Fillon in the May 7 run-off, the poll predicted, by margins of 16 and 12 points respectively.
Earlier this month Le Pen refused the demand to repay the nearly €300,000 (£258,000) of EU funds that a European parliament investigation alleged she misspent.
Le Pen described the demand as “a unilateral decision taken by political opponents ... without proof and without waiting for a judgment from the court action I have started”.Le Pen described the demand as “a unilateral decision taken by political opponents ... without proof and without waiting for a judgment from the court action I have started”.
An EU official said failure to pay could lead to her monthly EU parliamentary salary being halved to about €3,000 euros from February, and she could also lose other allowances. In total, about €7,000 could be taken from her EU payslip every month.An EU official said failure to pay could lead to her monthly EU parliamentary salary being halved to about €3,000 euros from February, and she could also lose other allowances. In total, about €7,000 could be taken from her EU payslip every month.
Five other Front National members of the European parliament including Le Pen’s father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, had previously had their EU payments cut because of misused money that was not reimbursed, an EU official told Reuters.Five other Front National members of the European parliament including Le Pen’s father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, had previously had their EU payments cut because of misused money that was not reimbursed, an EU official told Reuters.
Several EU lawmakers from other political groupings have also been investigated for expenses that were not in line with EU rules. Most have agreed to reimburse misspent money.Several EU lawmakers from other political groupings have also been investigated for expenses that were not in line with EU rules. Most have agreed to reimburse misspent money.
The investigation into misuse of funds was led by the watchdog on fraud against the EU budget. That agency has also taken the case against Le Pen to French courts, which will decide whether other sanctions are warranted.The investigation into misuse of funds was led by the watchdog on fraud against the EU budget. That agency has also taken the case against Le Pen to French courts, which will decide whether other sanctions are warranted.