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TRUE OR FALSE. Do French MEPs receive additional income paid by lobbies?
TRUE OR FALSE. Do French MEPs receive additional income paid by lobbies?
(franceinfo)
The candidate of France Insoumise, Manon Aubry, affirmed that her opponents from PS – Place Publique, Renaissance and Les Républicains, would receive additional income from lobbying or governments. True or false ?
A statement ignited social networks one month before the European elections. In a tweet, the head of the France Insoumise list, Manon Aubry, affirms that a quarter of MEPs receive side reviews from lobbyists or governments. Among the examples cited are three of his rivals in the European elections: the socialist Raphaël Glucksmann, the Renaissance candidate Valérie Hayer and François-Xavier Bellamy of the Republicans. An assertion which immediately caused a reaction from the candidates concerned, who are accused of receiving between 12,000 and more than 60,000 additional euros.
The visual posted by Manon Aubry links to the Integrity Watch site, an NGO which lists the additional income of MEPs thanks to their declaration of interests. Indeed, the income of the three candidates mentioned is well between 12,000 and 60,000 euros. The rebellious candidate did not declare any additional income.
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What is the nature of these remunerations? These statements have recently been updated: Raphaël Glucksmann receives 48,000 euros for royalties per year. Same thing for the Republican candidate who receives 36,328 euros from a publishing house. As for Valérie Hayer, although she received compensation as a local elected official until 2021, she no longer declares any additional income today.
Legal and declared remuneration without links to lobbies or governments, as Manon Aubry says. “The problem is that it is legal in the European Parliament to receive additional remuneration. Some people have the right to find that normal, not me,” explained the left-wing candidate. The additional income that certain French MEPs receive does not come from lobbies trying to influence European policy, as Manon Aubry claimed.
