the Paris prosecutor’s office opens an investigation into the financing of Bruno Le Maire’s microparty

A preliminary investigation was opened on June 2 into the campaign financing of Bruno Le Maire’s microparty, the Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed on Monday June 12, after an article by Mediapart (paid item). The investigation was opened for “participation in the financing of a political party by a legal person through donations or the provision of advantages at a price lower than those usually practiced” and for “acceptance by the political party of these same advantages”, said the prosecution. These offenses are punishable by three years’ imprisonment and a fine of 45,000 euros.

The Brigade for the repression of economic delinquency (BRDE) of the Paris judicial police must determine whether illegal donations have been made through invoices from service providers not paid by the microparty called With BLM, which had collected two million euros to finance Bruno Le Maire’s campaign in the 2016 right-wing primary, according to Mediapart.

The current Minister of the Economy came in fifth position in this election, with 2.4% of the vote, a bitter failure. Despite appeals for donations, he had subsequently struggled to pay off his debts. Mediapart ensures that, on “more than ten” of unpaid service providers, the largest canceled debts come from two specialists in political communication: Experian (bill of 24,990 euros not paid) and Catch Digital Strategy (9,000 euros).