Marlène Schiappa is heard on Wednesday by the Senate commission of inquiry about the questionable allocation of credits from the Marianne fund to fight against separatism. Can the Secretary of State for the Social and Solidarity Economy and Community Life still remain in office?
The pressure is mounting around Marlène Schiappa. Tuesday, June 13, the deputies of France Insoumise loudly demanded his resignation during the session of questions to the government. The prefect Christian Gravel, who piloted the allocation of subsidies, has already left his post. And Marlène Schiappa, who was in charge of Citizenship when this fund was created after the assassination of Samuel Paty, will therefore have to explain herself. First Wednesday morning in front of the senators. Then probably in court since a judicial investigation, in particular for embezzlement of public funds and breach of trust, was opened by the national financial prosecutor’s office.
>> Marianne Fund: why is Marlène Schiappa, heard this morning by the Senate, implicated in this case?
But paradoxically, the virulent attacks of rebellious France can also consolidate, for a time, its place in government. Because behind the court case, there is also a ruthless political confrontation. If all the tenors of the Insoumis are stepping up to demand his resignation, it is also to take revenge for the accusations of which they have been the object.
The Secretary of State confirmed, but for how long?
On the front line to defend secularism, Marlène Schiappa has often denounced the complacency of Jean-Luc Mélenchon and his followers for the rise of communitarianism and Islamism. There is revenge in the air. Letting go of the Secretary of State at this time would be a heavy admission of weakness for the executive. Elisabeth Borne confirmed it publicly on Sunday. But for a while.
His situation could therefore change, depending on the investigation and if his legal situation changes, of course. Remember that she is not even indicted for the time being. And then everything will depend on Emmanuel Macron. At the Élysée, we have long considered Marlène Schiappa as one of the few to take the light and really do politics within a rather dull techno team.
Except that by dint of running through the media and looking for buzz, for example with a thunderous interview with Playboy, she ended up arousing quite a bit of enmity. If the rumor of a reshuffle materializes in a few weeks, the executive could be tempted to exfiltrate in the heart of summer a free electron who has become rather embarrassing.