Penelopegate: François Fillon awaits verdict in corruption trial!

Penelopegate: François Fillon awaits verdict in corruption trial!

François Fillon, the former prime minister of France, is at the center of one of the most high-profile corruption cases of recent years, the so-called “Penelopegate” affair. On Tuesday, the Paris Court of Appeal will announce its final decision on his sentence on charges of falsifying jobs for his wife Penelope. While he himself will not attend the trial, the details of the case will make political waves again.

What is particularly explosive is the fact that Fillon was found guilty by the Court of Cassation on April 24, 2023. At a hearing on April 29, the public prosecutor demanded a four-year suspended prison sentence, a fine of 375,000 euros and ten years of incapacity to hold office. These sentences largely correspond to the verdict of May 9, 2022, when he was already sentenced to four years in prison, one year of which was without parole. It is now being determined whether these sentences will be maintained or whether they could be made more severe, as the arguments for a new trial are carefully considered Lemonde reported.

The background to the scandal

The case revolves around allegations that Fillon granted his wife a fictitious employment relationship as a parliamentary assistant, for which she was demonstrably never effectively employed. During the period in question, from 2012 to 2013, Penelope Fillon was not active in Parliament or in her constituency in Paris. This misfortune not only has legal consequences for the Fillons, but also calls into question the credibility of the political elite. In fact, all of the defendants, including Marc Joulaud, Fillon's former deputy, had to pay fines totaling around 800,000 euros to the National Assembly [France3].

The National Assembly lawyer pointed out that there are also deputies whose relatives actually worked for them. However, Fillon himself argued that there are many parliamentarians who have acted in a similar way to him. These legal and moral gray areas within the political system arouse the interest of the media and the public [Spiegel].

The verdict and the consequences

The appeal court's decision on Tuesday will not only determine Fillon's future, but could also have far-reaching consequences for the political landscape in France. Fillon's sentence is also expected to set the framework for other similar cases in the country. Penelope Fillon has already received a two-year suspended prison sentence and a fine of 375,000 euros. Together with Joulaud, who was given a three-year suspended prison sentence, they represent what many see as a culture of impunity for political missteps.

It remains to be seen whether the public prosecutor's claims will be fully or only partially confirmed. Another verdict in this grueling affair could be expected around 1:30 p.m. and all of France will be paying attention to the news [France3].