A scandal of a heavy caliber hits the Macron government… money has evaporated!

A huge scandal hit French government It is related to a fund established to combat religious extremism in the country three years ago. However, investigations have recently been opened on suspicion of embezzlement of funds and accusations of nepotism.

The story begins in late 2020, when the government established the Marian Fund A teacher was killed in a terrorist attackwith the aim of spreading the “values ​​of the republic”, but today the executive authority is facing a debate about the way to use those funds amounting to 2.5 million euros in donations.

Three years after its establishment, the fund has become at the center of two investigations, one judicial and the other parliamentary, between suspicions of embezzlement of funds and accusations of favoritism and the production of controversial content.

And while rumors are circulating about government reshuffles, the scandal today threatens to affect the controversial minister, Marlene Schiappa, who proposed the idea of ​​​​creating the fund and is one of the first supporters of President Emmanuel Macron.

And after she denied any illegal behavior, Chiappa appeared on Wednesday morning before the Senate Investigation Committee for questioning in this regard, according to the agency, “Agence France Presse.”

2.5 million euros

The state collected 2.5 million euros to be distributed to associations after examining the nomination files. The fund was entrusted to a ministerial committee against extremism, which adopted an accelerated mechanism, which led to the selection of 17 files in just two months. After that, there was no new news about the fund.

However, at the end of March 2023, a joint investigation by two media outlets suddenly shed light again on the fund, as it described a non-transparent management of funds, and a secret list of beneficiaries led by a little-known association, the “Union of Physical Education and Military Preparation Associations,” which is believed to have used 355 thousand Euros of aid granted to issue publications that received little follow-up and to pay the salaries of two of its former directors.

Investigations accelerated this week with the raid on the headquarters of a number of the main parties to the case, including the former administrative official who managed the fund within the government before he was forced to resign.

Commission of Inquiry and Hearings

In parallel, the Senate, which is controlled by the right-wing opposition, formed an investigative committee that initiated hearings, some of which revealed confusing information to Marilyn Schiappa, who is today the Secretary of State for Social Economy and Solidarity.

Her former office manager admitted before the senators that an association’s application for aid from the Marian Fund had been denied after “unfavorable arbitration by the secretary,” though he denied any favouritism.

It concerns the historical association SOS Racisme, whose president has displeased the government by harshly criticizing its anti-isolationist law.

Samuel Paty (AFP)

Dominique Sobo explained in response to questions from AFP that he had initially obtained a verbal guarantee that his association would receive aid worth one hundred thousand euros, before the situation suddenly changed. “After that, there was complete silence. We didn’t get help,” he said.

Chiappa’s site is under threat

Shyaba’s exact role remains to be clarified, but her position in government appears very threatened. On Sunday, Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne gave her a very timid endorsement, saying “I don’t think it’s necessary” for her to step down.

It is noteworthy that the French government pledged, after the terrorist operation, to behead the teacher, Samuel Paty, at the hands of one hardcore On October 16, 2020, by confronting “isolationism”, especially religious ones, that threaten social cohesion.

A law was passed in this regard in August 2021, but the executive authority had taken the initiative before that, since April of the same year, to establish the “Marianne Fund for the Republic”, calling it the name of the female figure that symbolizes the French Republic and its slogan is “Freedom, Equality, Fraternity.” .