An EU court has dismissed an appeal brought by the heirs of the late French far-right politician Jean-Marie Le Pen. The family were disputing a European Parliament demand for repayment of more than €300,000 that he wrongly claimed in expenses during his time as an MEP.
Last year, the European Parliament accused Le Pen of having improperly claimed money that he had spent on personal matters as parliamentary expenses, when he served as a member of the parliament.
A report by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) found that between 2009 and 2018 Le Pen unduly invoiced items including umbrellas, kitchen scales, desk clocks, smart watches, virtual reality glasses and 129 bottles of wine.
Le Pen appealed, and following his death earlier this year the proceedings were taken up by his daughter Marine – who leads France's National Rally grouping in parliament – and her siblings.
"The General Court dismisses the action brought by Mr Le Pen and his heirs," the lower chamber of the EU's Court of Justice said in a statement. "The procedure which led the parliament to adopt the recovery decision and to issue the debit note is not contrary to the principles of legal certainty and the protection of legitimate expectations."
The European Parliament said it "took note" of the ruling, which can be appealed.
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Other embezzlement scandals
The money involved was incorrectly claimed by Le Pen under the so-called "budget item 400" which is mainly intended to cover MEPs' office rental and equipment costs.
The parliament subsequently demanded that Le Pen repay €303,201.
The case is separate from the EU embezzlement scandal that threatens to end Marine Le Pen's hopes for the French presidency in 2027.
A French court banned the 56-year-old politician from standing for office for five years in March, over a scheme which saw the European Parliament paying assistants who were in fact working for her party.
RN leader Le Pen battles for political future after embezzlement conviction
The far-right leader, who has worked to transform the party co-founded by her father from a fringe outfit into an electable mainstream force, also received a partially suspended four-year jail term, and a €100,000 fine over the case.
The RN party is also being probed over alleged illegal campaign financing. Police raided its headquarters last week, seizing documents and accounting records.
(with newswires)
