Russian loan to the RN: Marine Le Pen denies any political counterpart for Putin

Europe 1 with AFP / Photo credits: Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP 19:07 pm, May 24, 2023

Marine Le Pen defended herself Wednesday in the National Assembly of any "Russian tropism", ensuring that she would never have signed the loan contracted in Russia by her party if it had committed her to "anything" with Vladimir Putin. The former president of the National Rally (RN) was heard for nearly four hours by the parliamentary commission of inquiry into foreign interference. At the center of the discussions, a loan of 9.4 million euros contracted with a Czech-Russian bank in 2014 by the former FN, then led by Marine Le Pen.

Has it given rise to political pressure or quid pro quos? "If it had committed me to anything, I would not have signed," said the leader of the RN, vowing to have "nothing to reproach (herself) in this case" and reporting a loan "perfectly legal, perfectly verified".

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It will ban political parties from foreign loans

She assured that, if elected in 2027, she would ban foreign loans for political parties. She also promised the creation of a "bank of democracy" to help parties finance their electoral campaigns, a recurring idea, including in the majority, but which Emmanuel Macron has never followed through. The unsuccessful three-time presidential candidate dwelt on the critical financial situation her party was facing at the time, as well as its difficulties in finding a European creditor.

At the beginning of May, before the same committee of inquiry, former FN MEP Jean-Luc Schaffhauser explained that he had been asked by Marine Le Pen to find funds: "We could only find on the Chinese side, Iran, or Russia," he said. "Marine Le Pen considered Russia to be the best." "It was that or death" of the party, confirmed Wednesday the far-right leader. Was Vladimir Putin informed about the negotiation? "It is obvious that if the power in place was against it, the deal would not have been done," said Jean-Luc Schaffhauser. "I sign a loan with a bank, I do not sign a loan with Vladimir Putin," Marine Le Pen indirectly replied.

"Crimea was Russian for two centuries"

Could the deal, however, explain the Frontist leadership's support for Russia after the invasion of Crimea, the commission asks. "Crimea was Russian for two centuries, it was Ukrainian for sixty years," Marine Le Pen replied, assuring them that "the arrival or not of a loan has not changed one iota the opinions that have always been ours." What about support for the 2014 referendum, whose sincerity was disputed by all international observers? "I note that there were no refugees from Crimea," Le Pen quipped. "It was perfectly open to international bodies to reorganize a new one (...) to verify that people had voted freely."

The trips of some RN elected officials on the spot to support Russian positions? "Every MEP is free." Marine Le Pen's opposition to the sanctions taken by the France and the European Union against Russia after the annexation of Crimea? "I had the same position as The Republicans," she said. "I formally deny having taken any decision whatsoever to please anyone," summarized the daughter of Jean-Marie Le Pen, noting that "the only obligation we have when we make a loan is to repay it."

The redemption of the loan

Still, the case took an incredible turn when the bank went bankrupt, its debts being then bought in cascade by different companies. The latter, to which the RN continues to repay its debt, is reputed to be as sulphurous as it is close to the Kremlin. "I have no responsibility in the structure that buys the debts," defended Marine Le Pen. "If it had been La Redoute who had bought it, it would have been for me the same level of obligation: to repay my loan."

Under the fire of questions from the deputies of the majority and the opposition, the one who had been received in the Kremlin a few days before the presidential election of 2017 assured to have "never" had a conversation on this loan and its redemption with Vladimir Putin. "Never! Nor with the political figures I have met, in the Duma or elsewhere." The commission of inquiry was launched by the RN group in the Assembly at the end of 2022, precisely to try to cut short accusations that the far-right party is an agent of Russian influence in France. The other camps denounce a "diversion" of the National Rally. Its findings are due in early June.