Paris (AFP)

The treasurer of the FN, first warned to speak at the trial for scams, defended Thursday a system of "kits" Campaign "absolutely wonderful", imagined by a party riddled with debts after "political and financial catastrophe" of the presidential and legislative elections of 2007.

Despite the irregularities raised the day before by the defense, the Paris court decided to continue the trial of the far-right party, judged in particular for "complicity in fraud" to the detriment of the state in the legislative elections of 2012.

Former lawyer of the FN, Wallerand of Saint-Just, 69 years, presents with the ease of the regulars, before the court which examines the validity of the "kits" campaign - leaflets, posters, Internet site .... - sold to the candidates by Jeanne, the micro-party of Marine Le Pen, and provided by the communication company Riwal of one of its close advisers.

"We do not pretend that this is a political trial but a criminal trial of a political party," said immediately Mr. de Saint-Just, marking his difference with France Insoumise of Jean- Luc Mélenchon and his accusations of an instrumentalization of justice by the power.

During 2:30, the treasurer tries to justify the "operational and financial mechanism" that he set up with the party's historical jurist, Jean-François Jalkh, behind him on the bench of the defendants.

Everything starts with the failure of Jean-Marie Le Pen in the 2007 presidential election: in the legislative elections that follow, nearly half of the candidates are below the 5% of the vote, which means that campaign expenses are not reimbursed.

"Historically, the FN bears the expense that would remain the responsibility of its candidates" from "poor circles", welcomes the treasurer. Result: some nine million euros of debt. What remains of public funding, amputated for five years by the collapse of votes, is seized by the creditor. In 2011, the FN must sell the "Paquebot", its historic headquarters in Nanterre.

Faced with the hostility of the media, the "political spectrum (which) do not like us" and French banks who refuse any loan, the FN must fend for itself, justifies the regional advisor of Ile-de-France.

- "Maybe violated a rule" -

At the end of 2010, on the verge of succeeding her father at the head of the FN, Marine Le Pen created her micro-party Jeanne. Because "Jeanne has no debt, can work with printers and people have lent working capital," says the treasurer.

With this fund of some 900,000 euros, Jeanne lends in 2012 the amount of the kit - 16,650 euros - to 525 candidates who return the money immediately by buying the equipment. This is provided by Riwal, a company of a close adviser to the shadow of the new president, Frédéric Chatillon.

This accounting round-trip allows Jeanne to advance almost 9 million euros, until the candidates are reimbursed by the State to get enough to pay Riwal, sole intermediary between the FN and its suppliers.

For the investigating judges, this system concealed Riwal's services "very largely overvalued", intended to maximize the reimbursement obtained from the State.

For the treasurer, on the contrary, the system is more virtuous than the one validated as early as 2007 by the Commission of campaign accounts (CNCCFP), when Fernand Le Rachinel, historical figure of the FN, provided the campaign material to 25.000 euros for "benefits scandalously overcharged "according to him.

"In 2007, I say to myself + The Rachinel is too expensive + In 2012, Riwal is exactly what I need It is very well done, professional, and the price is half less. absolutely wonderful, you just have to campaign, "he enthuses.

"Perhaps we have broken a rule, but have we intended to commit a criminal offense and divert money from the state (...)? On the contrary," he concludes. "We are in good faith, we thought we were doing the best thing possible."

The trial, scheduled until November 29, continues Friday.

© 2019 AFP