François Bayrou acquitted “for the benefit of the doubt” in the parliamentary assistants affair. “For me it is a nightmare of seven years which has just ended with a decision without challenge from the court,” declared François Bayrou, 72, leaving the courtroom.
Two other defendants were also acquitted. The eight others, including five former MEPs, were however sentenced to suspended prison sentences of 10 to 18 months, fines of 10,000 to 50,000 euros and two years of suspended ineligibility.