Seven years after the 2017 presidential election, the third trial in the Fillon affair opens this Monday, November 25, 2024, before the Court of Appeal in Paris. The Court of Cassation confirmed, on April 24, the guilt of the former Prime Minister, his wife Penelope and his deputy Marc Joulaud for “embezzlement of public funds” et “complicity in abuse of corporate assets”, in the case of the fictitious employment of Penelope Fillon as a parliamentary assistant.
The former Prime Minister was sentenced on appeal to four years of imprisonment, including one year, a fine of €375,000 and ten years of ineligibility. But according to the Court of Cassation, a prison sentence can only be imposed “if any other sanction is manifestly inadequate”.
In fact, the highest court ordered a new hearing regarding the sentences handed down against François Fillon and the payment of damages.
Sufficiently justified decision
For the Court of Cassation, the judge's decision is not sufficiently justified. On the other hand, the sentence of Marc Joulaud (François Fillon's deputy) to three years in prison, suspended, was confirmed without reservation. Just like that of Penelope Fillon, two years in prison, a fine of €375,000 and two years of ineligibility.
Since this decision, on November 12, 2024, former Prime Minister François Fillon offered to reimburse the National Assembly to the tune of €700,000, after the Court of Cassation validated the conviction of the former Sarthe deputy for embezzlement of public funds in the affair of his wife Penelope's fictitious jobs.
