The Court of Cassation ordered a new appeal judgment on April 24 to redefine the sentences and damages awarded against the former Prime Minister.
“Our reaction can only be disappointment.” The lawyers of François and Penelope Fillon reacted this Wednesday, April 24 to the decision rendered by the Court of Cassation in the so-called case of the fictitious employment of the wife of the former Prime Minister in the National Assembly.
While rejecting the arguments of the defense and recognizing the guilt of François Fillon, the Court of Cassation nevertheless ordered a new trial before a court of appeal to redefine the nature of the sentences and the amount of damages that François will have to pay. Fillon.
“The appeal judge did not explain how a sanction other than a prison sentence without suspension would have been manifestly inadequate,” wrote the Court of Cassation in a press release.
In its decision rendered in 2022, the court of appeal sentenced the former Prime Minister to four years in prison, including one year, a fine of 375,000 euros and ten years of ineligibility. His wife, Penelope, was sentenced to two years in prison, two years of ineligibility and a fine of 375,000 euros. Marc Joulaud, François Fillon’s former deputy, received a three-year suspended prison sentence and five years of ineligibility.
All three also had to pay a total of around 800,000 euros in damages to the National Assembly.
Story 3: Fillon, guilty but no sentence yet – 04/24
A “possible” referral to the ECHR by the couple
“The prison sentence has never been justified, there will be a new trial on this point,” the lawyers write in a press release. “Similarly, the amount of sums owed to the National Assembly was also considered excessive in view of the reality of Pénélope Fillon’s activity with her husband.”
The conviction of Penelope Fillon and that of Marc Joulaud were confirmed by the Court of Cassation.
Me François Henri Briard and Patrice Spinosi also explain that the Fillon couple is studying “the possibility of referring the matter to the European Court of Human Rights”.
“As it stands, François Fillon will continue to defend himself before his new judges,” concludes the defense of the former Prime Minister.
Vincent Vantighem and Hugues Garnier
