“Jeanne Case”: the National Front indicted – Liberation

The indictments continue to fall in the investigation into the financing of the National Front campaigns. This Wednesday, the party itself has been indicted as a corporation for “the misuse of company assets” and “complicity of scams.” The announcement was made by the party treasurer Wallerand de Saint-Just, after several hours of hearings by the investigating judges Renaud Van Ruymbeke and Aude Buresi.

Opened in April 2014, the case involves possible fraudulent enrichment of the National Front at the expense of the state, particularly in parliamentary 2012. At issue: campaign materials produced by the company Frédéric Chatillon, Riwal, whose purchase was highly recommended by the FN its candidates – an internal memo even making the condition of all contestants. The judges consider that the price of these kits may have been overvalued. The benefit of Riwal, which would then have realized comfortable margins at the expense of the State, since the latter will reimburse the campaign expenses of candidates who achieved at least 5% of the vote.

Another player system : Jeanne microparti, helping to fund National Front campaigns. In 2012, Jeanne offered to candidates to advance them the amount needed to purchase the kits. Loans whose interests are also, in part, fell to the responsibility of the State. The judges finally Riwal suspected of illegally funded the FN via payment facilities offered to the party, the free provision of premises or employees, but also compensation Frontists frameworks for internal missions in society.

Legislative Faille

However, the investigation was undermined by a legislative vacuum conveniently operated by the FN: since 2013, the offense of acceptance by a political party financing coming from a corporation is not punishable by law, a loophole that had escaped the legislator, the Paris prosecutor and investigating judges. Given this legal vacuum, the Crown asked in June to judges to indict the FN for the misuse of corporate assets and complicity of scams – clearly followed a notice Wednesday.

In a press conference Tuesday Wallerand de Saint-Just disputed the binding nature of campaign kits, indicating that some of the applicants had refused to use them. These would, however, only about forty Frontists 565 candidates in 2012. As for possible overcharges, the treasurer said he could not pronounce, “as the folder is empty on this point.” Wallerand de Saint-Just announced he assigned state in court for abuse of process, claiming him 200,000 euros in damages.

Before the National Front, eight natural or legal persons had been indicted in the case. Including Frédéric Chatillon, former militant radical friend and Marine personnel Le Pen and Jean-François Jalkh, vice president of the FN and General Secretary of Jeanne.

Dominique Albertini