France: MPs call for the establishment of a commission of inquiry into the possible funding of parties by Russia

Members of the French National Assembly revealed today that they have asked the Speaker of the Lower House to establishment of a commission of inquiry which will investigate alleged Russian funding of political parties.

In a letter to Yael Bron-Pievet, which was shown to reporters, the MPs said their proposal was prompted by the recent declassification of US intelligence documents showing that Russia paid millions of euros to political parties in other countries “with the aim (…) to influence the elections”.

The eight MPs, who come from the French president’s En Marche party Emmanuel Macronthey also noted that Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Alarm is still repaying a loan given to it by Russian banks.

“These events clearly indicate Russia’s intention to interfere in the public debate in France (…) justify the establishment of a commission of inquiry to investigate whether French political parties – and which ones – benefited from Russian funding,” the letter states.

A US administration official, citing declassified documents, said on September 13 that the US expects Russia to increasingly turn in the coming months to covert financing of political parties to undermine international sanctions imposed on it and maintain its influence. abroad. But he did not reveal which countries were believed to be the targets of efforts to increase Russian influence, nor did he present specific evidence to support allegations of covert party funding.

RES-EMP

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