a judicial investigation opened by the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office

The National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) has opened a judicial investigation into the “Marianne Fund” case, for “misappropriation of public funds through negligence”, “breach of trust”, and “illegal taking of interests”, learned France Inter from a source familiar with the matter, Thursday May 4, 2023. Information confirmed by the PNF himself.

>> We explain the controversy over the Marianne fund, created after the assassination of Samuel Paty and whose use raises questions

The Marianne Fund, a project to promote the “values ​​of the Republic” launched in April 2021 by Marlène Schiappa – then Minister Delegate for Citizenship – after the assassination of Samuel Paty, is controversial after a series of revelations from the weekly MarianneFrance 2 and Mediapart on the use of subsidies allocated to two associations.

An investigating judge will therefore investigate the way in which the subsidies from this fund were allocated. According to the joint investigation of Marianne and France 2 broadcast at the end of March, the main beneficiary structure of the fund, up to 355,000 euros, seems to have fed only a website and publications with very little follow on social networks.

Mediapart then revealed that several left-wing personalities, including the PS mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, had been denigrated in content posted online by another beneficiary structure.

The Senate Finance Committee also asked unanimously on Wednesday to be given the prerogatives of a commission of inquiry into the Marianne fund. Auditions are expected to begin by the end of May.