nine parliamentarians repay misappropriated sums and escape prosecution

Neither fine nor condemnation: nine parliamentarians or former parliamentarians escaped legal proceedings for embezzlement of public funds after having reimbursed the Senate or the Assembly for fraudulent expenses linked to the use of their representative allowance for mandate expenses, between 2015 and 2017. Amounts refunded directly to Parliament “have oscillated between 6,707 euros and 47,299 euros”.

In 2018, the High Authority for the Transparency of Public Life (HATVP) had sent the files of around fifteen elected officials to the courts after having checked the variation in their heritage, between the first rules of supervision of the IRFM in 2015 and their end of term in 2017. Upon receipt of these reports, the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) opened a preliminary investigation entrusted to the Brigade for the Suppression of Economic Crime (BRDE).

The remaining files could be the subject of a discontinuance of the proceedings but also of a referral to the criminal court or an appearance on prior admission of guilt (CRPC), depending, among other things, on the amount of the sums due and the attitude of the defendants.

The moralization laws passed in the summer of 2017 led to a reform of the system in early 2018, with stricter rules and random control of expenditure. Deputies now have an “advance” of 5,373 euros monthly (same amount as the old IRFM), of which 600 euros can be spent without supporting documents, senators 5,900 euros, including 885 euros without supporting documents.

Since 2018, several names of parliamentarians from all sides targeted by this investigation have been revealed by the press – including Yves Détraigne, Jean-Christophe Cambadélis, Sandrine Mazetier, Philippe Nachbar, Frédérique Espagnac, Ary Chalus, Marc-Philippe Daubresse, Linda Gourjade – but the PNF site does not specify who is concerned by the rankings without follow-up.