The judges also acquitted the RN of two of the four preventions of concealment of abuse of social property for which he had been sentenced at first instance to a fine of 18,750 euros.

Marine Le Pen's party was suspected of having overcharged "campaign kits" sold to its candidates in the 2012 general elections to deceive the State which reimburses the expenses of those who win more than 5% of the vote.

"The National Front (former name of the RN, editor's note) is guilty of two acts of concealment of abuse of social assets, under the assumption by the company Riwal of a supplier credit for several years and salaries paid for two employees, Nicolas Bay and David Rachline," said the Court of Appeal in its judgment consulted by AFP.

Former RN MEP Nicolas Bay joined the ranks of Reconquête!, Eric Zemmour's far-right party. David Rachline is RN mayor of Fréjus.

"These facts reveal criminal relations between the party and one of its suppliers, for several years and constitute a circumvention of the rules of financing of political parties," said the judges.

"The seriousness of these facts results in particular from the attack on citizens' trust in political parties, which have a central role in the functioning of democracy," they stressed.

The court justified the fine of 250,000 euros imposed on the RN by explaining that it was "adapted to the seriousness of the facts committed and the financial situation of this political party".

The RN has not ruled out lodging an appeal in cassation against this decision.

"If, for one of the prosecutions, the court raises the fine imposed on the RN, it is for legal reasons contrary to those of the court, they may be submitted to the court of cassation," the party said in a statement.

'Partisan motives'

Marine Le Pen's party denounced "what was a criminal prosecution devoid of any factual and legal basis and, therefore, exclusively dictated by partisan motives".

During the appeal trial, the prosecutor general had requested a fine of 500,000 euros against the RN.

Believing to have been the victim of fraud, the State claimed 11.6 million euros in damages from the RN and the defendants. The court dismissed the application.

"From the beginning, it was clear, for any person of good faith, that there had never been the slightest desire to embezzle public funds," said the RN.

In total, three legal entities - the RN, the micro-party Jeanne, the communication company Riwal - and seven close to Marine Le Pen were tried on appeal for fraud at the expense of the State, abuse of social assets, breach of trust, concealment and money laundering.

At the heart of the dossier, "campaign kits", the turnkey electoral material used by FN candidates in the 2012 legislative elections, consisting of leaflets, "personalized" posters, a website and even services to present accounts in good standing to the institution responsible for verifying the financing of political parties (CNCCFP).

These "kits" were sold for 16,650 euros to candidates by the association Jeanne, the micro-party of Marine Le Pen, and provided by the company Riwal, led by Frédéric Chatillon, a former president of the GUD (Union Defense Group, a far-right student organization).

As in the first instance, Frédéric Chatillon was sentenced to a fine of 250,000 euros and two and a half years in prison including ten months firm which can be completed under electronic bracelet.

Apart from the heavier penalty imposed on the RN, the court generally upheld the judgment of first instance of the Paris judicial court for the rest of the defendants.

© 2023 AFP