Martin Schulz denounces fraud by the National Front in the European budget
(BRUSSELS2) The European Parliament officially confirmed on Monday evening the information from Le Monde: the referral to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) for possible financial irregularities on the part of the National Front in the management of the salaries of its assistants. It was the president of the institution, Martin Schulz, who seized OLAF on Monday.
A hint of fictitious employment
The cause of the wrath of the President of Parliament: the latest organization chart of the National Front, released at the end of February, lists the presence of 20 assistants to European parliamentarians (4 accredited and 16 local) in official positions while " these must necessarily and directly work for the exercise of the parliamentary mandate of MEPs ". Basically, fictitious jobs...
Three counts of irregularity
More formally, three irregularities are noted, according to the European Parliament:
1 ° " Among the local assistants concerned, 10 have concluded an employment contract which indicates as the address of execution the address of the headquarters of the National Front in Nanterre. »
2 ° " The description of their contractual function with the deputy differs in every respect from the nature of the functions detailed in the organization chart of the National Front or on the party's website..
3 ° " According to this organization chart, some assistants do not work for the MEP to whom they are bound by an employment contract ". Thereby “9 other assistants to elected representatives at the European Parliament indicated as the address for the performance of their employment contract as local assistant the address of the party's headquarters in Nanterre”
Disguised financing of a political party?
For the European Parliament, this operation is totally contrary to the statute of MEPs. The "implementing measures" of the statute provide (article 43) that the salaries paid to the assistants by the Parliament " cannot be used directly or indirectly to finance contracts established with political groups in Parliament or political parties.. It specifies (in article 33 al. 2) that "Only the expenses corresponding to the assistance necessary and directly linked to the exercise of the parliamentary mandate of the deputies can be covered" by the budget of the European Parliament. “These expenses cannot in any case cover costs related to the private sphere of the deputies.”
Court cases pending
OLAF must now investigate. This body, independent but attached to the European sphere, can take legal action, criminal, if necessary of the State concerned by the fraud (France in this case or Belgium, if necessary). We can bet that this case will also end up in court, the National Front seems determined to defend its point of view. Marine Le Pen set the tone yesterday, saying that " Manuel Valls mobilizes his socialist friends against the National Front. The President of the European Parliament releases the bass drum. A complaint will be filed against him for slanderous denunciation. A second part could be played, this time before the court or the European Court of Justice against the measures taken. It is then a control of the legality of the rules of the European Parliament, of the power of its president, as well as of conformity with the general rules of law, which will be at stake (more legal questions but just as important)
(NGV)
(*) I'accredited assistant is based in one of the three places of work of the European Parliament (Brussels, Luxembourg or Strasbourg). It benefits from a European law contract established directly with the Parliament. He normally assists the deputy in his daily parliamentary work. I'local helper is based in one of the EU Member States. He is hired under a private law employment contract drawn up with the Member of Parliament and subject to the legislation of that State. Its normal purpose is to ensure permanence in the MEP's electoral area and to ensure interaction between the electorate and the MEP