Marine Le Pen, the leader of the French far right, never imagined that her political fate would be shattered by an administrative decision made by a German man in the European Parliament. In 2015, Martin Schulz, then president of the European Parliament, referred the “parliamentary assistants” case of the National Front to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), triggering a series of judicial investigations that ultimately led to her exclusion from the 2027 presidential race.
But how did a bureaucratic decision turn into an unprecedented political earthquake? What are the deeper implications of this case for French and European democracy?
The Story from the Beginning: 340,000 Euros at the Heart of the Storm
The scandal started with an anonymous letter received by Schulz’s office, revealing that Catherine Griset, Marine Le Pen’s chief of staff, and her bodyguard Thierry Légier were being paid by the European Parliament while working for the National Front in France. A quick audit showed that 20 out of 24 parliamentary assistants of the party were in the same situation. Suspicious of fraud, Schulz alerted OLAF on March 9, 2015, launching an investigation that would shake the French far right.
Martin Schulz: An Unconventional Path
Born into a modest family, the son of a policeman, Martin Schulz had a turbulent youth. Expelled from his Catholic school, failing to obtain his baccalaureate, and forced to abandon his football dreams due to an injury, he struggled with alcoholism before rebuilding his life with his brother’s support. He opened a small bookstore in Würselen, his hometown, before embarking on a remarkable political career, becoming mayor at 31 and later president of the European Parliament in 2012.
Schulz vs. Le Pen: An Ideological Battle
These two figures clashed on all fronts. Schulz championed deeper European integration, even proposing a constitutional treaty in 2017 for the “United States of Europe,” while Le Pen advocated for strict nationalism and France’s exit from the EU. His 2015 decision may not have been politically motivated, but it undeniably reshaped France’s political landscape by barring Le Pen from the 2027 presidential race.
Justice and Politics: Coincidence or Strategy?
This case raises a fundamental question: did the judiciary play a role in shaping political outcomes? Is there a European tendency to sideline the far right through legal mechanisms? Some see this as a dangerous precedent, while others argue it is merely the rule of law at work.
The Schulz Paradox: European Values, Silence on the Middle East
Despite Schulz’s strong advocacy for European ideals, his stance on Palestine remains muted, likely due to Germany’s historical relationship with Israel. But can history justify such silence, or does Europe have a moral obligation to condemn all human rights violations, regardless of geopolitical considerations?
