At the trial of the FN parliamentary assistants, an indictment which aims to be an “exemplary response” to a “profound and lasting attack on the rules of the democratic game”

The deputies and assistants of the National Front (FN) expected a harsh indictment, it was merciless. The public prosecutor requested, on Wednesday November 13, a five-year prison sentence against Marine Le Pen – she risked ten – including two years, convertible with an electronic bracelet, a fine of 30,000 euros, and five years of imprisonment. ineligibility, with provisional execution, that is to say which applies immediately, even in the event of appeal.

At the end of nine hours of indictment, the prosecutors Louise Neyton and Nicolas Barret, also called for prison, often suspended, for the 24 other defendants, with very harsh words, strong fines and ineligibility. always accompanied by provisional execution.

“The only thing that interested the prosecution was Marine Le Pen, to be able to request her exclusion from political life” protested the member for Pas-de-Calais after the hearing, also seeing in the requisitions a desire to “ruin the party”. The former president of the RN again denounced “a desire by the prosecution to deprive the French of the ability to vote for whoever they wish”. In reality, Marine Le Pen's candidacy in 2027 should not be affected, except in terms of image, even if the court followed the public prosecutor's office.

A decision of the Constitutional Council of October 22, 2009, on Senator Gaston Flosse, established that provisional execution was not imposed on the current mandate of parliamentarians, and ineligibility only applied after a decision definitive guilt, therefore after an appeal rejected by the Court of Cassation. A decision confirmed in 2021 for senator Jean-Noël Guérini and in 2022 for deputy Michel Fanget. Taking into account the usual appeal and cassation deadlines, the final decision for M^me Le Pen probably won't arrive before the presidential election.

“The European Parliament was their cash cow”

This is also the case of Julien Odoul, deputy for Yonne, whose “the contract combines almost all the defects”et “who came to the hearing to talk about almost anything. » Ten months of suspended prison time, a 20,000 euro fine and a one-year ineligibility with provisional execution were required against him, or Timothée Houssin, elected in Eure, for whom the prosecution is demanding the same sentence, but with only a 10,000 euro fine.

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