EU Court Orders Le Pen Estate to Repay €303K Misused Funds

The European Union's General Court has upheld a decision requiring the family of the late French far-right politician Jean-Marie Le Pen to repay approximately 303,200 euros ($352,000) in parliamentary funds. The funds were deemed unduly claimed during Le Pen's tenure as a Member of the European Parliament, specifically related to the misuse of a flat-rate monthly office allowance intended for parliamentary work expenses. The investigation by the European Anti-Fraud Office found that some expenses were unrelated to parliamentary duties, including payments for properties linked to Le Pen's political party. Although Jean-Marie Le Pen passed away before the case concluded, his daughters, including Marine Le Pen, who leads the National Rally party, are responsible for the repayment. This ruling concludes a long-standing dispute that began with the investigation in 2016. The case underscores ongoing scrutiny of misuse of EU parliamentary funds and highlights the legacy and controversies surrounding the Le Pen family.