Re‑examination of Embezzlement Case
On June 17, 2025, the Paris Court of Appeal delivered a new verdict in the long-running “Penelopegate” scandal. Former French Prime Minister François Fillon has been sentenced to four years in prison, all suspended, plus a €375,000 fine and five years of ineligibility to hold public office, following a re‑examination of his sentence for misusing public funds tied to his wife’s parliamentary assistant role .
A Brief Legal Timeline
- May 9, 2022: Fillon was originally sentenced to one year in jail (firm), a €375,000 fine, and ten years ineligibility, for using public money to pay his wife, Penelope, for a job she did not actually perform .
- April 2024: The Court of Cassation overturned part of the sentence, noting that the motive for the prison term was insufficient, and sent the case back for re‑sentencing .
- April 29, 2025: During sentencing hearings, the prosecutor asked for a four‑year suspended prison term, a €375,000 fine, and ten years ineligibility .
- June 17, 2025: The Court issued its updated verdict—four years suspended, €375,000 fine, and five years ineligibility .
Damages and Financial Obligations
The court confirmed that Fillon must pay €126,167 in damages to the National Assembly, covering part of the unjust salary awarded to Penelope. In total, the compensation owed amounts to €800,000, which he has begun repaying .
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Montpellier’s Reasoning & Fillon’s Defense
The court highlighted that Penelope’s work was never actually performed: “There was no proof of salaried work,” they said in their verdict . Fillon’s lawyer emphasized that the suspended sentence means he remains free: “No jail time, no ankle monitor—Mr. Fillon is a free man,” adding they may challenge the decision at the Court of Cassation .
Consequences for Others Involved
- Penelope Fillon: sentenced to two years suspended prison and a €375,000 fine, with two years of ineligibility—a sentence now final .
- Marc Joulaud (Fillon’s former deputy): received three years suspended and five years ineligibility, also final .
All three were ordered to pay the combined €800,000 in assembly damages .
Legal Stakes & Fillon’s Position
Fillon described the loss of eligibility as a “moral wound,” although he listed no plans to return to politics, saying he is now active in consulting . His defense argues that his sentence was influenced by his political history, and they’re reviewing whether to appeal again .
Final Thought
This ruling brings the decades-old “Penelopegate” full circle. While Fillon avoids prison time, his suspended sentence, hefty fine, and political ban are major blows. Whether he pursues another appeal—either in France or at the European Court—is the next key question.