Appeal trial of MoDem parliamentary assistants: former aide Marielle de Sarnez recalled at hearing
Before the appeals court, former MEP Thierry Cornillet defended the hiring of parliamentary assistants who claim they never actually worked for him, invoking the role of François Bayrou's former right-hand woman, who died in 2021.

The appeal trial involving parliamentary assistants of the Democratic Movement (MoDem) continued with the hearing of former MEP Thierry Cornillet, according to Le Monde. He attempted to justify to the court the hiring of employees of the centrist party, even though several of them claim they never actually worked for him during their term.
According to the newspaper's account, the name of Marielle de Sarnez, François Bayrou's longtime aide who died in 2021, came up repeatedly during the hearing, invoked in the defense of the defendants.
This case is part of the larger investigation into alleged fake jobs for European parliamentary assistants at the MoDem, which had already resulted in an initial judgment. The appeal hearing is meant to reexamine the responsibilities of each of those implicated in this case.
Le Monde notes that François Bayrou, president of the MoDem, formed with Marielle de Sarnez a long-standing political partnership, whose shadow continues to hang over this trial.
Sources
- Au procès en appel des assistants parlementaires du MoDem, l’ombre de feu Marielle de Sarnez, « binôme » de François Bayrou — Le Monde — Une
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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