Mayalène Trémolet / Photo credit: Alain JOCARD / AFP
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5:37 p.m., April 19, 2023
Times are tough for Marlène Schiappa. The Secretary of State is accused of having given public money to associations which have used, without control, the Marianne fund. This is a public fund of more than 2 million euros raised in April 2021 to fight against “separatist excesses” after the assassination of Samuel Paty in October 2020. In total, 17 associations supposed to fight against this phenomenon , received payments. Among them, two were more subsidized than the others: the first, the Union of Physical Education and Military Preparation Societies (USEPPM), received 355,000 euros, and the second, Rebuild the Common, 330,000 euros.
No connection with the fight against separatism
What is problematic is that these two associations have no connection with the fight against separatism. Also, two members of the first association, including the journalist Mohamed Sifaoui, would have received salaries of 120,000 euros. The second organization is also accused of having used public money to produce politically oriented content, including videos critical of left-wing candidates, opposed to the head of state, during the presidential and legislative campaigns of 2022.
Targeted by some of this content – some videos relayed the famous hashtag #SaccageParis, the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, retaliated on Tuesday by filing a complaint for embezzlement of public funds, breach of trust and violation of the legislation of the electoral code.
A flash commission of inquiry requested by socialist senators
Marlène Schiappa, questioned, denies any responsibility. According to the Secretary of State for the Social Economy, the Marianne fund was managed by an independent organization, and therefore not by her. But according to members of other associations, all the grants awarded have been closely monitored, leaving little room for a lack of control. It therefore seems that Marlène Schiappa could not not know.
Finally, a flash commission of inquiry was requested by the Socialist group in the Senate, which requires access to documents by Wednesday evening, 6 p.m. Shortly after the case of the front page of Playboyit is a new blow for the Secretary of State who is not unanimous in the government and has not yet received any strong support.