before the trial of parliamentary assistants, these voters assure that they will remain “loyal” to Marine Le Pen’s party

The former presidential candidate and 24 other people are suspected of having embezzled funds from the European Parliament to pay party employees.

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Posters from the National Rally for the European elections, June 10, 2024. (DENIS CHARLET / AFP)

Almost a year after the Modem elected officials, it is the turn of 27 members of the National Rally, including Marine Le Pen, to appear, from Monday September 30, before the Paris criminal court. The courts accuse them of having set up a system of embezzlement of European funds between 2004 and 2016. The money intended for parliamentary assistants would thus have been used to pay executives and small hands of the party for an amount of seven million euros.

Like party executives, the affair does not seem to disturb RN voters, particularly in the suburbs of Lyon, where the party achieves its best scores.

In Saint-Bonnet-de-Mure, the trial which is opening does not affect the voters of the RN deputy, Tiffany Joncour. She obtained 63% of the votes in the second round of the legislative elections. “There are several politicians who have been convicted”estimates a resident. “Everyone does the same, add another. They’re all more or less in on some shenanigans.”

These RN voters seem calm about the outcome of the trial. “It’s going to be annoying for them, that’s all. But they won’t be condemned, says one of them. For me, there is nothing at all. There’s no harm at all.” And another added: “That doesn’t worry me at all. They’ll be able to defend themselves, there’s no problem.” Some express a nuance: “There must be a truth that is recognized. If Marine Le Pen is guilty, well listen, justice must begin.”

What if Marine Le Pen was sentenced to ineligibility before the presidential election? That’s not what’s going to make me change my vote.. If she is ineligible, you still have Bardella, who holds up. I will always vote National Rally”concludes a voter, joined by others: “It’s Mr. Bardella who will take over”, “Another who will come forward in his place, little Jordan”, “That would be sad, but I will always vote National Front, therefore Bardella”. And another to finally add: “Only they can restore order, we remain loyal to them.”


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