EU Commission accused of moves to stop Le Pen becoming French President on Sunday

Eurosceptic Le Pen finds Brussels’ fingerprints over smears attacking her

Montage © Facts4EU.Org 2022

Facts4EU reports on suspicions EU Commission is propping up its man (Macron) in Sunday’s run-off for the Elysée

Two accusations have been levelled at the EU Commission and its agencies, relating to the timing of its announcements which could influence the outcome of the French presidential elections on Sunday.

Days before the final round of voting, is the EU Commission meddling in support of pro-EU Macron? Facts4EU.Org looks at the evidence.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org Summary

Two suspicions have been raised regarding possible EU interference in French elections:-

Sudden leak to media from French prosecutors office in relation to EU agency report on misuse of EU funds by Le Pen’s party, dating back years
Delay of EU Commission announcement on Russian sanctions that could drive up petrol prices in France, which could damage Macron

This is all happening days before final French presidential vote

This evening sees the crucial televised debate between the two candidates for occupancy of the Elysée Palace. On Sunday the French will go to the polls for the run-off election between ardent EU-federalist Emmanuel Macron and his Eurosceptic challenger Marine Le Pen.

For the EU Commission, what could be worse than the election of Marine Le Pen – the most popular French Eurosceptic – replacing the rule of the incumbent President Emmanuel Macron?

Macron is very firmly in the EU camp, whilst Le Pen has pitched her tent in France. The challenger has softened her anti-EU stance considerably since she last stood against the French President, but no-one in France doubts the proclivities of each candidate.

It is against this background that accusations are now flying.

1. Timing of embezzlement accusation raises question of conspiracy against Le Pen

It was leaked on Sunday that French prosecutors are considering a report they received on 11 March from the EU’s anti-fraud agency (OLAF) which accuses Marine Le Pen’s party of redirecting €617,000 from EU funds to pay for staff and events. These allegations go back as far as 2016.

Le Pen’s lawyer said his client denied the charges and had neither seen the final OLAF report nor been questioned by authorities. Nor is there any suggestion that Marine Le Pen benefited personally in any way.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org Summary

Very old accusation of misuse of EU funds

Le Pen has been under investigation by EU agency OLAF since 2016
The probe relates to using EU funds to pay parliamentary assistants
After six years compiling its report OLAF hands it to French prosecutors – just before elections
It has not provided a copy to Le Pen nor has she been questioned by prosecutors – but they do speak to the press
Le Pen denies all charges (although she has yet to see them) and is expected to file a complaint against OLAF

Marine Le Pen

Dismissing the OLAF report Marine le Pen said it was:-

“foul play by the European Union a few days before the second round”

“I am well accustomed to this, and I think the French will absolutely not fall for it.”

- Marine Le Pen, leader of Rassemblement National (National Rally) party

2. Delays in announcing EU oil embargo of Russia which could immediately drive up French petrol prices

EU Commission bureaucrats are drafting a ban on the import of Russian oil products to be phased in gradually, but there will be no draft available before the French elections. Were this to be announced, the very nature of it would feed into Marine Le Pen’s anti-EU narrative.

The EU has already agreed the nature of parts of the Russian embargo including a coal embargo, although its introduction has been delayed by four months at the insistence of Germany.

No announcement - nor any draft - can be seen before the French elections on 24 April as it could bring about a rise in petrol prices which, going by past experience in France would drive up support for Le Pen.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org Summary

How an oil embargo could spook the markets and French electorate

At Germany’s insistence EU’s Russian coal embargo delayed for 4 months
Germany gets 34% of its oil from Russia
EU is drafting a Russian oil embargo – to be introduced gradually
A long lead time will be included – just like the coal embargo
Publication of the draft oil embargo may spook the market
No publication to avoid pushing up ptrol prices before the French elections

The EU has form when it comes to meddling in democracies

Sadly the EU has a troubled history of involving itself in the democratic processes of its member states.

In November 2011 former European Central Bank vice-president Lucas Papademos was appointed as Greece's new Prime Minister even though he was not a member of parliament at the time. This followed the resignation of Prime Minister Papandreous after he proposed a referendum on the EU/IMF debt bale-out which could have resulted in the EU’s unpopular austerity measures being rejected. Papandreous won a vote of confidence but was nevertheless forced to leave office.

In the same year Italy saw former EU Commissioner Mario Monti take over as Prime Minister from outgoing premier Silvio Berlusconi. Again, the EU was seen to be dictating what should happen.

Monti was appointed head of government by President Georgio Napolitano having first been made a “life senator” by the President as he was not even elected to any office.

Observations

If it looks like a duck, waddles like a duck and quacks like a duck…

Nobody doubts that if Marine Le Pen were to win the French Presidential election run-off on Sunday it would send a seismic shock through the corridors of Brussels. While she has toned down her Frexit credentials and her opposition to the Euro, she remains bitterly opposed to many of the EU’s institutions and has a completely different approach to the globalist and EU-federalist outlook of Emmanuel Macron.

What could be worse for the EU Commission than the election of Marine Le Pen – the most popular French Eurosceptic – replacing the rule of the incumbent President Emmanuel Macron? Surely the EU would not interfere in the internal affairs of a member state? Would it?

One does not have to be a conspiracy theorist to find the timing of the leaks from the EU Commission’s agency and the French prosecutor’s office rather ‘coincidental’.

The decision making in Brussels could be seen as being taken with the French elections in mind. Rather than get the negotiations moving on introducing a Russian oil embargo it was decided not to publish anything until after the elections in case it caused petrol prices to rise, thereby sending people to the polls intent on punishing Macron.

Maybe that’s a stretch, but the sudden release of information about potential embezzlement charges from a report that has been sitting in a Paris prosecutors in-tray for more than a month smells as rank as a rather ripe French cheese.

Leaving nothing to chance

What looks more likely is that nothing is being left to chance. The kitchen sink is being thrown at Le Pen – just in case she wins the televised debate this evening and takes a surprise lead. It is the turnout that could decide the election. If the large leftist youth vote decides to stay at home rather than vote for either candidate then Le Pen could benefit

Do not be surprised if the EU makes further announcements damaging Marine Le Pen even with only a few days to go. There will be some sensible and rational reason of course - there always is – but that never makes Brussels’ interference right.

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[ Sources: EU Commission | New York Times | BBC | Reuters | France24 ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Wednesday 20 April 2022

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Reader Comments 10

1. Austen Turner , Wednesday, April 20, 2022, 07:42:

The EU will have a hand in any major vote in any country they see themselves as having control of. They will always want governments establish that they see as pro EU. The EU will reward funding to "projects" that are seen to be in the self interest of the EU and those who are in power

2. Steve Jackson , Wednesday, April 20, 2022, 07:51:

Nobody really believed the EU were going to play fair did they. They are toast if Macron loses and aren't going to play fair that's for sure. If it was "only" a referendum it would have to be re run which is difficult with an election.

3. Fred Dawson , Wednesday, April 20, 2022, 08:12:

Let's hope the French do the right thing and vote for Le Pen and France.

4. Fergus Nolan , Wednesday, April 20, 2022, 08:53:

Even my own country's political class actively lobbied inside the UK for a remain vote in your 2016 referendum “…. Mr Kenny and members of his Cabinet have been taking an unprecedentedly high-profile role in a political campaign in another country” (Irish Times June 15th 2016). Europhiles think nothing of interference in the democratic affairs of other colonies.

5. One eyed king , Wednesday, April 20, 2022, 09:15:

The French are not as fat and thick as their American contemporary, the penalties for incumbent liar's can be enough to lose one's head. The show will be entertaining as the tide turns on the gnomes handlers
Long live the free

6. Richard McAdam , Wednesday, April 20, 2022, 11:04:

No surprise there then, the EU is as much a part of the Davos clique as Macron, they are trying to smear Le Pen’s campaign same as they did with Trumps campaign in the US, they fear patriots more than anything, because patriots can’t be bought or influenced by their money!

7. Jon, Wales , Wednesday, April 20, 2022, 13:11:

The EU Commission or any EU leader, including any EU bureaucrat, should have no business interfering in the democratic procedures and ultimate elections of a sovereign country, in this case, France.
If the EU are found to be interfering in the debates and elections of an EU member country, they may have a legal case to answer?
This may amount to POLITICAL ENGINEERING by a foreign institution into the democratic affairs of France (a safe country)?
Given UK past experience from interfering Obama and others, It's reasonable to suggest the present US administration may attempt to sway French political discourse in debates and elections, solely because the US is pro-EU (though the US themselves would NEVER enter into such an arrangement like the EU).
Our French cousins will shortly have the opportunity they've been calling for to remove Mr Macron from power - a matter for French citizens only.
Le Pen is clearly (and rightly in my opinion), setting out policy aspects to TAKE BACK CONTROL of France. Perhaps this time she ought to be afforded that opportunity?

8. Adam Hiley , Thursday, April 21, 2022, 22:38:

The French deserve better than Macron or Le Pen who voted for the European Commission no one did the sooner the EU disintegrates the better and why the UK is well rid of it

9. W. Alkaway UK , Friday, April 22, 2022, 07:54:

Timing is all. And the timing of this accusation against Le Pen just before the National Election is clearly an attempt to falsely smear Le Pen's name and reputation. How about they investigate Macron? Thought not. It makes it all the more obvious that Macron is a puppet of the Globalist movement and of the EU. The Globalists are up to their old tricks. Victoire for Madam Le Pen!

10. W. Alkaway UK , Monday, April 25, 2022, 09:34:

Wonder what the French voters will say now if the rumours that Macron has abandoned 50 French specialist troops to an underground grave at the Steel Works at Mariupol in Ukraine are revealed in the French Press. He was desperate to keep that quiet before Polling Day. It has been published by foreign media.

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