The leader of the RN deputies Marine Le Pen renewed on Tuesday her “total confidence” in her colleague Edwige Diaz, targeted by an investigation for suspicion of fictitious employment in the European Parliament.
“There is no doubt about his activity, I renew my absolutely total confidence in him”, insisted Marine Le Pen during a press conference at the Assembly, the day after searches carried out in the offices and residences of the deputy, and in a departmental office of the RN.
Jacques Colombier placed in police custody
Edwige Diaz, RN deputy for Gironde, is the subject of an investigation launched by the European public prosecutor’s office after a report from the Anticor association in 2021 in Gironde. It relates to “suspicions of fictitious employment as a parliamentary assistant” in “2018 and 2019”, when Edwige Diaz held this position with former MEP RN Jacques Colombier.
The latter was placed in police custody on Monday, before coming out in the afternoon, he confirmed to AFP. The investigation was entrusted to the Financial Investigation Department. “I have no doubt for half a second that Jacques Colombier and Edwige Diaz will be cleared of all these suspicions,” insisted Marine Le Pen.
“Little Revenge”
Edwige Diaz claims to have worked for Jacques Colombier “from April 2018 to June 2019”, accompanying him “on his travels”, managing “his social networks”, and organizing “visits to the European Parliament”.
She accuses Anticor’s referent in Gironde David Poulain, candidate for municipal elections in 2020 in Ambarès-et-Lagrave, of “settling a political account”. He would have, according to her, requested an agreement at the time for the RN to withdraw his candidacy, which the party would have refused. Charges that David Poulain refutes. Marine Le Pen also denounced a “small revenge, helped by a few regional advisers not reinvested”.
The RN has been the subject of several investigations and indictments for suspicion of fictitious jobs of European parliamentary assistants in recent years. Marine Le Pen, who had herself received a request for reimbursement from Parliament, was indicted for “embezzlement of public funds”, a charge she denounces.