European Parliament lifts immunity from Marine Le Pen

By Hajer M'tiri

PARIS (AA) - The European Parliament on Thursday lifted immunity from far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen at the request of French prosecutors.

This latest suspension of her parliamentary immunity centers on a defamation case filed by Nice mayor, Christian Estrosi.

The case dates back to May 2015 when Le Pen accused Estrosi in debate of financing the Union of Islamic Organizations of France by providing it with a property to be used as a mosque for very low rent.

This is the third time Le Pen has faced demands to have her parliamentary immunity lifted.

A similar call surfaced in April in connection to a separate investigation into alleged fake jobs enjoyed by National Front parliamentary assistants. That demand is still being processed.

Le Pen, who did not attend the voting session, is currently campaigning ahead of the French legislative elections scheduled for Sunday.

If elected as a French lawmaker, the far-right leader will have to leave the European Parliament, where she has been a MEP since 2004.

The European parliament on Wednesday also lifted immunity from two other National Front lawmakers -- Mylene Troszczynski and Jean-Marie Le Pen, Marine Le Pen’s father.