French Senate strips immunity from LR senator amid corruption probe
French Senate strips immunity from LR senator Francis Szpiner amid corruption probe, marking the latest high-profile parliamentary investigation in Europe.
The French Senate’s bureau voted unanimously on Thursday to lift the parliamentary immunity of Les Républicains (LR) senator Francis Szpiner, clearing the way for his potential detention in a corruption case. Prosecutors suspect Szpiner, a former mayor of Paris’s 16th arrondissement, of granting a social housing unit in 2023 to a woman in exchange for sexual favors, according to *Libération* . The decision follows a formal request from investigating judges, who now have 48 hours to place Szpiner in police custody if they deem it necessary.
The case adds to a growing list of European parliamentarians facing judicial scrutiny. In Spain, the brother of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, David Sánchez, is currently on trial for favoritism—a scandal that has intensified calls from the conservative opposition for early elections. The Spanish prosecutor’s office has also moved to dismiss one of the charges against Sánchez’s brother and another against former PSOE leader José Antonio Gallardo, arguing the investigation remains valid despite procedural challenges .
Meanwhile, in Slovakia, the specialized criminal court handling the *Corrumpere 2* case—a high-profile corruption probe involving lawyers—postponed proceedings after defendant Alexander F. abruptly replaced his legal team just before the trial resumed. The delay, announced Thursday, pushes the next hearing to June, further complicating a case already mired in legal maneuvering .
The Szpiner case underscores the tension between parliamentary privilege and judicial accountability, a debate that has gained traction across Europe as corruption allegations against elected officials multiply. In France, the lifting of immunity requires a vote by the Senate bureau, a process that has historically been rare but is now invoked with increasing frequency. Szpiner, a prominent figure in LR, has denied wrongdoing, but the Senate’s decision signals a willingness to prioritize legal proceedings over political protection.
With similar investigations targeting lawmakers in Spain and Slovakia, the Szpiner case may set a precedent for how European institutions balance immunity with the demands of anti-corruption probes. The outcome could influence future requests to lift parliamentary protections, particularly in cases involving allegations of abuse of power.
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