Paris (AFP)

Double investigation, tumultuous searches, polemics with the justice and the media: the judicial twists and controversies around Jean-Luc Mélenchon which will be fixed on his fate Monday for the incidents having enamelled the search with the headquarters of LFI in 2018.

- Double investigation -

On July 18, 2017, the Paris prosecutor's office broadens its investigation into suspicions of fictitious jobs of assistants in the European Parliament - which targets about twenty MEPs from all sides - to the boss of the insubordinate France (LFI) Jean-Luc Mélenchon . The former MEP of the leftist party (2009-2017) was the subject of a report tabled by front-line MEP Sophie Montel.

The prosecution announces on May 29, 2018 another investigation, to carry out "checks" on the accounts of the presidential campaign of Jean-Luc Mélenchon in 2017. The report quotes of the expenses invoiced by Mediascop, directed by Sophia Chikirou, to the time responsible for the communication of the candidate.

At the end of 2017, the Campaign Accounts Committee had validated the accounts of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, excluding reimbursable expenses of around 400,000 euros in expenses.

On November 9, 2018, the two investigations will be entrusted to examining magistrates.

- Searches -

On October 16, 2018, searches were conducted at the headquarters of LFI, as well as the homes of Jean-Luc Mélenchon and former assistants of the deputy.

On the footage of the search at the headquarters of LFI, filmed by journalists, Mr. Mélenchon calls his family to "break the door" to enter. Inside, he jostled a representative of the prosecution and a police officer who intervened.

We see the member yelling, exceeded: "The Republic is me", and "my person is sacred".

- Investigation for violence -

The Paris prosecutor announced October 17 an investigation for "threats" and "violence" on police officers and magistrates.

The following day, after five hours of hearing by the judicial police in Nanterre, Mr. Mélenchon denounced "a political police operation" and "a judicial escalation".

The Keeper of the Seals Nicole Belloubet denies any political intervention.

- "Macronie" in question -

On October 19, Sophia Chikirou, suspected of having overcharged her benefits to the candidate in 2017, is heard by the anti-corruption police.

After the broadcast of a survey of Radio France on the company Médiascop Ms. Chikirou, Jean-Luc Mélenchon denounces a "political offensive" against him "all Macronie, which found its relays by exploiting the police, justice and the media ".

Médiapart goes back on the searches and affirms the "long-standing" existence of an intimate relationship between the MP and Sophia Chikirou. The online site claims that 12,000 euros in cash would have been discovered by the investigators at the home of a relative of Mr. Mélenchon.

His lawyer denounces a violation of the secrecy of the investigation.

Radio France filed a complaint on October 24 against Jean-Luc Mélenchon who, on social networks, treated the journalists of France Info as "morons" and "liars", and called them "to rot".

On October 27 in the regional daily La Provence, Jean-Luc Mélenchon says that "the culprit of the coup-mounted is at the Elysee".

- Judged in correctional -

In June 2019, Mr. Mélenchon and five of his relatives were convicted in correctional for "acts of intimidation against the judicial authority, rebellion and provocation" during the search of the headquarters of LFI, on direct quotation of the public prosecutor of Bobigny.

Before the trial, Mr. Mélenchon signed on September 8 with foreign personalities such as the former Brazilian president Lula, a forum denouncing a "+ lawfare + tactics" in their respective countries: "the instrumentalization of justice to eliminate competitors policies. "

Ms. Belloubet denounces an "unacceptable amalgam".

On September 20, 2019 at the trial in Bobigny, the prosecutor's office requires three months of suspended prison sentence against Mr. Mélenchon.

© 2019 AFP