French Prosecutor Dismisses Complaint Against Deputy Charles Alloncle

The French Parquet national financier (National Financial Prosecutor) closed without further action a complaint filed by the anti‑corruption association AC!! Anti‑Corruption against UDR deputy Charles Alloncle. The association had alleged illegal interest taking and influence‑peddling, claiming Alloncle had steered the parliamentary inquiry into public broadcasting in favour of Lagardère News, whose principal shareholder is the Bolloré family.

Prosecutors concluded that the offence of illegal interest taking could not be applied to a parliamentary commission and that the evidence did not sufficiently substantiate a perception of an undue advantage to justify a criminal investigation for influence peddling. Alloncle acknowledged receiving suggested questions from various actors, described the practice as common for parliamentarians, denied any contact with Lagardère and asserted that he acted with "the strictest independence" throughout the commission’s work.