Suspicions about the use of millions from the Marianne fund
Announced a few months after the terrorist assassination of teacher Samuel Paty in October 2020, the Marianne fund, endowed with 2.5 million euros, was to finance actions aimed at “promoting republican values and combating separatist discourse”.
As demonstrated by several journalistic investigations, but also by the vitriolic report of the general administration inspectorate (IGA) and the hearings already conducted by the senatorial commission of inquiry on the subject, the project ended in a fiasco in terms of ratings and impact, while presenting serious irregularities.
Mohamed Sifaoui’s association, the Union of Physical Education and Military Preparation Societies (USEPPM), beneficiary of 355,000 euros, is particularly targeted by the IGA, which considers that it has committed multiple frauds, in using most of the money to pay the salaries of its leaders. The IGA evokes facts of” breach of trust “ of ” forgery and use of forgery “, of ” hidden work ” or even” abuse of weakness “.
Faced with the scandal, Marlène Schiappa chose to disclaim all responsibility by referring to Christian Gravel, the boss of the interministerial committee for the prevention of delinquency and radicalization (CIPDR), who resigned on Tuesday June 6, at the time of publication. of the IGA report, responsibility for abuses. The homes of Christian Gravel and Mohamed Sifaoui were searched yesterday, Tuesday June 13.