EP refers alleged French National Front financial irregularities to OLAF

Acting upon a notification by the European Parliament administration and in respect of the EP Rules of Procedures, President Martin Schulz on the 9 March 2015 informed the European fraud-fighting office OLAF of possible financial irregularities by the French party Front National. The possible irregularities concern salaries paid from the EU budget to assistants to Members of the European Parliament.

In response, Front National leader Marine Le Pen accused opponents of 'political manipulation', ahead of French local elections later in March 2015.

• Primary Source

The Local.fr, 10.03.15: Le Pen says EU fraud probe is 'just politics' http://www.thelocal.fr/20150310/le-pen-eu-fraud-probe-just-politics

EurActiv, 10.03.15: EU Parliament calls in fraud squad over National Front suspicions http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/eu-parliament-calls-fraud-squad-over-national-front-suspicions-312755

Deutsche Welle, 10.03.15: France's far-right National Front being investigated by EU fraud squad http://dw.de/p/1EoFn

EUObserver, 10.03.15: National Front in EU fraud allegation https://euobserver.com/justice/127937

BBC News, 10.03.15: France's National Front reported to EU fraud squad http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-31816226

EurActiv, 13.03.15: Schulz brushes off National Front fraud counter-claim http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-priorities-2020/schulz-brushes-national-front-fraud-counter-claim-312886

---