Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s far-right Front National, has been placed under formal investigation over allegations that her party illegally claimed millions of euros from the European parliament to pay for France-based staff.
Le Pen’s lawyer said she had been summoned by investigating magistrates in Paris and “as expected” had been placed under formal investigation for breach of trust. She will appeal against the decision.
Under French law, being put under formal investigation means there is “serious or consistent evidence” that points to probable involvement in a crime. It is a step towards a trial, though investigations can be dropped without proceeding to court.
The case was triggered by a complaint from the European parliament, which accused the Front National of defrauding it on a large scale. An investigation by a European parliament watchdog claimed that between 2011 and 2012 Le Pen had illicitly paid party staff for Front National work using money that should only be used for MEPs to pay assistants for legislative tasks.
In February, the European parliament said it would start docking Le Pen’s pay unless she paid the money back.
Le Pen has denied any wrongdoing and denied the allegations which she called political “persecution” of her.
Le Pen, who reached the final round of the presidential election in May and was squarely beaten by Emmanuel Macron, had invoked her immunity as a member of the European parliament in refusing to answer questions from investigators during the election campaign.
She had, however, promised to cooperate with the investigation after the May presidential and June parliamentary elections were over.
Le Pen is one of 17 Front National European lawmakers – along with her estranged father Jean-Marie Le Pen – who are being investigated over salaries paid to about 40 parliamentary assistants. All have denied any wrongdoing.
This month, Marine Le Pen took a seat in the French parliament for the first time after winning parliamentary elections in the northern former coal-mining region of Pas-de-Calais.
