Le Pen loses EU immunity over IS atrocity tweets

BRUSSELS, Belgium — The European Parliament on Thursday lifts French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen’s immunity from prosecution over her tweeting of images of Islamic State atrocities.

The move paves the way for France to pursue a case against the far right National Front leader, after prosecutors launched a probe in 2015 over the graphic pictures, which included the decapitated body of US journalist James Foley.

“The result is clear, a big majority is in favor of the lifting of immunity,” acting parliament speaker Dimitrios Papadimoulis said.

The ruling is effective immediately for Le Pen, a National Front MEP, European Parliament officials tell AFP.

But the decision concerns only the tweets, and not a separate probe into allegations that Le Pen misused public funds when hiring a parliamentary aide, they say.

The development is the latest twist in France’s dramatic presidential election campaign, coming a day after rightwing candidate Francois Fillon vows to continue his bid for power despite the fact he is to be charged over his own fake jobs scandal.

— AFP