Seven years ago, François Fillon, then favorite in the presidential election, found himself at the center of a dark affair of fictitious jobs. Indeed, the former Prime Minister embezzled public funds for the benefit of his wife, Penelope's, fictitious parliamentary assistant jobs in the National Assembly. But the politician seems to have decided to “return the money”, reports BFMTV. François Fillon would have announced the establishment of a protocol providing for the payment of 689,989.32 euros to the Palais Bourbon, spread over the next ten years. But what does this amount correspond to? It is the sum of damages the former Minister of Ecology was ordered to pay to the National Assembly with his wife and his former deputy, Marc Joulaud by the Paris Court of Appeal, on May 9, 2022 .
If he decided to make this proposal at that time, it is because on November 25, François Fillon will find himself in court again. Indeed, last April, the Court of Cassation confirmed the guilt of the former head of government for “embezzlement of public funds”. The latter received a four-year prison sentence, including one year spent under an electronic bracelet. But as BFMTV reports, the latter would not have been sufficiently motivated by the court of appeal in 2022. “Result: there will be a new trial on November 25. Only to redefine François Fillon’s sentence”explains a source close to the matter to BFMTV. “And to avoid too heavy a sanction, Fillon wants to present himself in his best light. By showing that he has understood the facts and that he has finally planned to return the money…”.
PHOTOS – François and Penelope Fillon: who are their 5 children?
François Fillon: how he influences his right-wing colleagues
Last July, after the victory of the New Popular Front in the legislative elections, the different parties tried to find the perfect profile who could become Prime Minister. The right would have even called on François Fillon to find out his opinion on the situation. He knows well “the hell of Matignon”reports The New Obs about the former Prime Minister under Nicolas Sarkozy. Despite the fictitious jobs affair and the fact that he has retired from political life, Penelope Fillon's husband still seems to influence his colleagues. According to the newspaper, he does not balk “to discuss with old friends the profile of a Prime Minister capable of bringing people together beyond his political family”. According to The New Obs, Bruno Retailleau, would have telephoned François Fillon “to submit names, rather technical, capable of reassuring the financial markets.”
Photo credits: Panoramic / Bestimage
