EU anti-fraud body accuses Marine Le Pen of embezzlement
GuardianNov 23, 2021
French Prosecutors Probe Marine Le Pen Over Campaign Funding
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Above: The president of the Rassemblement National group of the National Assembly, Marine Le Pen, gives her New Year's wishes to the journalists in Paris on January 25, 2024. Image copyright: Chesnot/Contributor/ Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Prosecutors in Paris have launched an inquiry into National Rally leader Marine Le Pen's 2022 presidential campaign funding over suspicions of embezzlement, forgery, fraud, and claims that a candidate accepted a campaign loan.
In the second round of the 2022 French presidential election, Le Pen received 41% of the vote and was defeated by incumbent Pres. Emmanuel Macron.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Le Pen and her far-right National Rally party aren't new to controversies. Several allegations of misappropriation of funds have also been made before. It's high time she and her party are probed objectively and convicted for exorbitant campaign expenses and fraudulent financial deals.
Establishment-critical narrative
This persecution should come as no surprise. Authorities continue to conduct frivolous investigations into the campaigns of Le Pen and the National Rally party to bring a solid opposition to Macron down. It's more the norm than the exception. It's clear that there's political manipulation at play.
