Mayalène Trémolet / Photo credit: Alain JOCARD / AFP 17:29 p.m., April 19, 2023, modified at 17:37 p.m., April 19, 2023

After her criticism in "Playboy", Marlène Schiappa finds herself facing the scandal of the Marianne fund. The Secretary of State is accused of having given public money to associations that used, without control, this fund of more than 2 million euros raised shortly after the assassination of Samuel Paty. Europe 1 sums up the case.

Times are tough for Marlène Schiappa. The Secretary of State is accused of having given public money to associations that used, without control, the Marianne fund. This is a public fund of more than 2 million euros raised in April 2021 to fight against "separatist excesses" after the assassination of Samuel Paty in October 2020. A total of 17 associations that are supposed to fight against this phenomenon have received payments. Among them, two were more subsidized than the others: the first, the Union of Physical Education and Military Preparation Societies (USEPPM), received 355,000 euros, and the second, Rebuilding the common, 330,000 euros.

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No link with the fight against separatism

The problem is that these two associations have no connection with the fight against separatism. Also, two members of the first association, including journalist Mohamed Sifaoui, would have received salaries of 120,000 euros. The second organization is also accused of having used public money to produce oriented political content, including videos critical of left-wing candidates, opposed to the head of state, during the presidential and legislative campaigns of 2022.

Targeted by some of this content - some videos relayed the famous hashtag #SaccageParis, the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, responded Tuesday by filing a complaint for embezzlement of public funds, breach of trust and violation of the legislation of the electoral code.

A flash commission of inquiry requested by socialist senators

Marlène Schiappa, implicated, denies any responsibility. According to the Secretary of State for the Social Economy, the Marianne fund was managed by an independent organisation, and therefore not by her. But according to members of other associations, all grants have been closely monitored, leaving little room for a lack of control. It seems that Marlène Schiappa could not not have not known.

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Finally, a flash committee of inquiry has been requested by the Socialist Group in the Senate, which is demanding access to documents by 18 p.m. on Wednesday evening. Shortly after the case on the front page of Playboy, it is a new blow for the Secretary of State who is not unanimous in the government and has not yet received any supported support.