French Ex-PM Fillon Given Suspended Sentence Over Wife's Fake Job

Former French prime minister Francois Fillon was on Tuesday given a four-year suspended prison sentence over a fake jobs scandal that wrecked his 2017 presidential bid.
Fillon, 71, had been found guilty in 2022 on appeal of embezzlement for providing a fake parliamentary assistant job to his wife, Penelope Fillon, that saw her being paid from public funds although the court found that she never did any work in the National Assembly.
The Paris appeals court also ordered him to pay a fine of 375,000 euros ($433,000) and barred him from seeking elected office for five years.
The sentence was milder than the one handed down in 2022, when he had been ordered to spend one year behind bars without any suspension.
But France's highest appeals court, the Court of Cassation, overruled that decision and ordered a new sentencing trial.
No change was made to the punishment for Penelope Fillon, who is British, and who was handed a two-year suspended sentence and ordered to pay the same fine as her husband.
The couple has always insisted that Penelope Fillon had done genuine constituency work.
Neither was present in court for the sentencing.
Fillon, a conservative, earlier this year called the ban on seeking public office a "moral wound".
The scandal, dubbed "PenelopeGate" by the French press, hurt Fillon's popularity and contributed to his first-round elimination in France's 2017 presidential election that was won by current President Emmanuel Macron.
"The treatment I received was somewhat unusual and nobody will convince me otherwise," Fillon said. "Perhaps there was a link with me being a candidate in the presidential election."
Fillon claimed that fake parliamentary jobs were common between 1981 and 2021, saying that "a large majority" of lawmakers had been in a "perfectly similar situation" to his during that time.
His wife's fake contract ran from 2012 to 2013.
"It is the appreciation of the court that there is no proof of any salaried work in the case," the court said in its ruling.
Fillon's lawyer, Antonin Levy, welcomed the decision to spare his client time in prison.
"Francois Fillon is a free man," he said.
In another recent high-profile case involving French politicians, former president Nicolas Sarkozy, also a conservative, was stripped of his Legion d'Honneur distinction following his conviction for graft.
Sarkozy, 70, had been wearing an electronic ankle tag until last month after France's highest appeals court upheld his conviction last December of trying to illegally secure favours from a judge.
Sarkozy is currently on trial in a separate case on charges of accepting illegal campaign financing in an alleged pact with late Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi.
Another case involves far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who was convicted in an embezzlement trial over fake European Parliament jobs, and is appealing the verdict.
As well as being given a partly suspended jail term and a fine, she was banned from taking part in elections for five years, which would -- if confirmed -- scupper her ambition of standing for the presidency in 2027. The court found no evidence that Penelope Fillon ever did the parliamentary work she was paid for AFP

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

DW

33 minutes ago

• DW

What to know after US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites – DW – 06/22/2025

The United States has entered the Israel-Iran war with a series of bombings on key Iranian nuclear enrichment sites. It marks a critical escalation in the Middle East. The United States has entered the Israel-Iran war, with President Donald Trump confirming US forces carried out attacks on three Iranian uranium enrichment sites. The attacks come days after Trump, who is also commander-in-chief of the US military, mused whether to enter the escalating conflict amid ongoing calls from Israel for his support and said he would make a decision within two weeks. The war began on June 13 with Israel launching a series of airstrikes against targets linked to Iran's nuclear program. Since then, attempts by other nations to broker a diplomatic solution to the fast escalating conflict have failed. On Saturday (US time), Trump announced US forces had attacked Iran's Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities. The Pentagon on Sunday confirmed seven B-2 Spirit bombers flew non-stop from a US Air Force base in Missouri to launch the attacks before returning home. Among the payload were 30,000-pound (13,600-kilogram) "bunker-busting" warheads, thought to be the only combination of aircraft and bombs capable of penetrating deep below the surface to strike at Iran's subterranean nuclear facility at Fordo. Trump claimed "the attacks were a spectacular military success" in a press conference following the three-site attack. "Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated," he said. While the attacks likely caused significant damage, the extent is yet to be independently verified. Germany believes "large parts" of Iran's nuclear program have been damaged by the strikes. However, some analysts believe enriched uranium may have been removed prior to the attack based on satellite images showing activity at the Fordo site. "Enriched uranium stock may therefore have been transferred to sites not monitored by the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency]," French nuclear expert Heloise Fayet told the AFP news agency. Reports from Iran indicate there has been no increase in "off-site radiation levels" following the attacks. The IAEA, which will hold an emergency meeting on Monday, has warned that damage to uranium enrichment sites, like the ones attacked by the US, carries the risk of radiation leakage, which could affect the public. More concerning would be an attack on the Bushehr nuclear reactor — Iran's only such facility — which IAEA chair Rafael Grossi last week warned could lead to a large-scale release of radioactivity. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video During the election campaign, Trump promised a more peaceful world if he returned to the White House, well aware of public sentiment surrounding America's so-called "forever wars." At his inauguration, he said his administration would measure success "not only by the battles we win, but also by the wars that we end, and perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into." His decision to enter the US into the conflict between two long-standing enemies in the Middle East is a notable turnabout from those January remarks. The US and other nations have long been concerned about Iran's desire to develop nuclear weapons despite statements from Iran that its nuclear program serves exclusively civilian purposes. Amid negotiations and Israel's start to the war, Trump, in a statement on Thursday, gave a two-week timetable to decide whether the US would directly enter the conflict. Within barely two days, US bombers had attacked three nuclear facilities. At the Pentagon on Sunday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters the attack resulted from "a plan that took months and weeks of positioning and preparation" in anticipation of a call by Trump. "It took a great deal of precision," Hegseth said. "It involved misdirection and the highest of operational security." Israel, which views Iran's uranium enrichment as an existential security threat, began airstrikes against Iranian military and nuclear targets on June 13, killing hundreds. Retaliatory strikes by Iran killed dozens in Israel. After Israel launched its attack, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio initially stated the US was "not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region." The war began amid a complex diplomatic situation regarding Iran's nuclear program. A previous deal overseen by then US President Barack Obama, which included the signatures of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany, limited Iran's enrichment to energy-generation grades, forced it to both surrender 98% of its enriched uranium and open the door to IAEA inspectors in exchange for eased sanctions. Following his first election victory, Trump withdrew the US from the agreement and called on Iran to return to negotiations on his terms. In the years since that withdrawal, Iran has restricted IAEA monitoring and inspection activities, and increased its enrichment reportedly to 60% — well above what is required for civilian energy generation and approaching weapons-grade levels. Israel's June attacks on Iran followed five rounds of US-Iran negotiations over a new deal. Iran withdrew from a scheduled sixth round of talks after being attacked by Israel and launched its retaliatory strikes. Now that the US has entered the conflict, Trump is seeking a swift resolution. "There will be either peace of there will be tragedy for Iran," Trump said. "Far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. Remember, there are many targets left." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Beyond praise from Israel and condemnation from Iran, there has been a mixed response to the US insertion into the war. Regional governments, including those of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Pakistan, India and Iraq, have all expressed concern. Many have explicitly called for de-escalation and a return to negotiations amid fears they too may be drawn into a wider conflict. Traditional US allies have urged a diplomatic solution, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the European Union among them. Through a spokesperson, German Chancellor Frederich Merz called on Iran to "immediately enter into negotiations with the US and Israel and find a diplomatic solution to the conflict." Those sentiments were echoed in public statements by Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and France and Italy's foreign ministers. US rivals China, Russia, both allies of Iran, condemned the US attacks. There are also splits over Trump's decision to involve the US closer to home. Many of Trump's Democratic Party opponents have condemned the decision not to seek the approval of Congress as unconstitutional. While many Republicans, led by Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, have publicly supported the decision, others, such as Representatives Warren Davidson and Thomas Massie, have echoed Democrats over the sidelining of congress. Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of the most vocal advocates for Trump's "America First" agenda, said the Israel-Iran conflict was "not our fight." Despite the US now involving itself in the Israel-Iran war, Hegseth told reporters on Sunday the Trump administration "does not seek war" with Iran. Nor, he said, was it about overthrowing the Iranian regime. In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, concerns will turn to the potential for any further attacks by either side, and the potential for radiation leaks from the destruction of nuclear sites. Inside Israel, the news of the US attacks was followed by air raid sirens, prompting locals to take shelter. Some have welcomed Trump's intervention, despite the escalation possibly shifting the region into the unknown. The US has warned Iran against retaliatory strikes and again called for it to return to negotiations. Iran has responded to the attacks by warning of "everlasting consequences" for the US, and declaring its nuclear program would continue. Amid this, Iran's diplomats intend to meet with ally Russia, and its parliament has approved the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping channel, subject to confirmation by its national security council.

Local Germany

11 hours ago

• Local Germany

Tens of thousands join pro-Palestinian marches across Europe

In London, AFP journalists saw tens of thousands of protesters, who waved Palestinian flags as they marched through the British capital clad in keffiyeh scarves. In Berlin, more than 10,000 people gathered in the centre of the city in support of Gaza, according to police figures. And in the Swiss capital Bern, march organisers estimated that 20,000 people rallied in front of the national parliament, urging the government to back a ceasefire. Thousands also gathered outside a French trade fair near Paris attended by Israeli defence firms, calling for an end to war profiteering and Israel's offensive in Gaza. There have been monthly protests in the British capital since the start of the 20-month-long war between Israel and Hamas, which has ravaged Gaza. This Saturday, protesters there carried signs including "Stop arming Israel" and "No war on Iran" as they marched in the sweltering heat. "It's important to remember that people are suffering in Gaza. I fear all the focus will be on Iran now," said 34-year-old Harry Baker. "I don't have great love for the Iranian regime, but we are now in a dangerous situation," he said, adding that this was his third pro-Palestinian protest. Advertisement Regional fears Saturday's marches came after Trump announced on social media that the US military had carried out a "very successful attack" on three Iranian nuclear sites. The US president added that after the strikes Iran "must now agree to end this war". Tehran had said Saturday that more than 400 people had been killed in Iran since Israel launched strikes last week claiming its arch-foe was close to acquiring a nuclear weapon -- which Iran denies. Some 25 people have been killed in Israel, according to official figures. One marcher in London, a 31-year-old Iranian student who did not want to share her name, told AFP she had family in Iran and was "scared". "I'm worried about my country. I know the regime is not good but it's still my country," she said. Gaza is suffering from famine-like conditions according to UN agencies in the region following an Israeli aid blockade. Gaza's civil defence agency has reported that hundreds have been killed by Israeli forces while trying to reach the US- and Israeli-backed aid distribution sites. "People need to keep their eyes on Gaza. That's where the genocide is happening," said 60-year-old protester Nicky Marcus. Advertisement 'Scared' In Berlin, demonstrators gathered mid-afternoon close to the parliament, some chanting "Germany finances, Israel bombs". "You can't sit on the sofa and be silent. Now is the time when we all need to speak up," said protester Gundula, who did not want to give her second name. For Marwan Radwan, the point of the protest was to bring attention to the "genocide currently taking place" and the "dirty work" being done by the German government. In Bern, demonstrators carried banners calling on the federal government to intervene in the war in Gaza, expressing solidarity with Palestinians. The rally there was called by organisations including Amnesty International, the Social Democratic Party, the Greens and the Swiss Trade Union Federation. Slogans included "Stop the occupation", "Stop the starvation, stop the violence", and "Right to self-determination". Some marchers chanted: "We are all the children of Gaza". The overall death toll in Gaza since the war broke out has reached at least 55,637 people, according to the health ministry. Israel has denied it is carrying out a genocide and says it aims to wipe out Hamas after the Islamist group's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people.

DW

a day ago

• DW

Bayesian superyacht lifted off seabed – DW – 06/21/2025

Mike Lynch, his daughter and five others died when the Bayesian yacht sank off Porticello, near Palermo, in August 2024. 15 others survived. Italian authorities are continuing to conduct a full criminal investigation. A British-flagged luxury superyacht that sank off Sicily last year, killing British tech magnate Mike Lynch and six others, was lifted from the water on Saturday. Salvage recovery crews completed the complex operation to bring the Bayesian yacht ashore for further investigation. One of Europe's most powerful maritime cranes hauled the 56-meter-long (184-foot) luxury yacht from beneath the waves during the day. The salvage team, led by British company TMC Marine, pumped seawater out of the hull and the vessel was held in an elevated position, surrounded by pollution containment booms, while further checks were carried out. The Bayesian's upper decks appeared badly damaged while the blue hull was encrusted with mud after it had sat on the seabed at a depth of 50 meters "The hull of the superyacht Bayesian has today been successfully and safely recovered from the sea off the coast of northern Sicily," said TMC Maritime. "This follows a delicate lifting procedure that began early today." The vessel has been slowly raised from the seabed, 50 meters below the surface, over the past three days to allow the steel lifting straps, slings and harnesses to be secured under the keel. Eight steel lifting straps were used to put the hull upright and to form part of a steel wire lifting system that began raising the vessel out of the water on Saturday. The Bayesian was missing its 72-meter (236-foot) mast, which was cut off and left on the seabed for future removal. The mast had to be detached to allow the hull to be brought to a nearly upright position that would allow the craft to be raised. The floating crane platform will now move the Bayesian to the Sicilian port of Termini Imerese on Sunday, where a special steel cradle is waiting for it. The vessel will then be made available for investigators to help determine the cause of the sinking. The Bayesian sank on August 19 off Porticello, near Palermo, during a violent storm as Lynch was treating friends to a cruise to celebrate his acquittal two months earlier in the United States on fraud charges. The 59-year-old sold Autonomy, a software maker he founded in 1996, to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion in 2011, and was acquitted of fraud charges in June 2024 by a federal court jury in San Francisco. Lynch, his daughter and five others died while fifteen people survived, including the captain and all crew members except the chef. Italian authorities are continuing to conduct a full criminal investigation.