French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has had her immunity revoked from European Union lawmakers after posting photos on her Twitter of Islamic State violence.
The leader of the National Front is under investigation after posting three graphic images on her Twitter account of Islamic State executions, including the beheading of journalist James Foley.
Because of her MP status, having immunity shielded Le Pen from prosecution. By lifting it, the parliament is allowing any eventual legal action against her.
The offence being considered by the parliament is “publishing violent images”, which under can carry a penalty of three years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros.
Mr Foley’s parents have accused Le Pen of using the “shamefully uncensored” image of their son simply for her own political ends.
In the report explaining the parliament’s decision, eurosceptic lawmaker Laura Ferrara said that whilst the images posted by Le Pen were very easily accessible on the internet, “this does not alter the fact that their violent nature is likely to undermine human dignity”.
Le Pen has cast off the legal proceedings as political interference and has called for a moratorium on the investigations until the election has passed.
However, this vote only lifts her immunity regarding this particular case. It will not cover a separate investigation into whether National Front misused European Parliament funds.
This is not the first time that Le Pen has had her immunity revoked by the EU parliament. In 2015 she was prosecuted with “incitement to discrimination over people’s religious beliefs” after she compared Muslims praying in public to the Nazi occupation of France during World War Two. Prosecutors eventually recommended the charges be dropped.
Recent opinion polls suggest the National Front leader is on course to win the first round in April, but will be beaten in the second round come May by centrist Emmanuel Macron, who is gaining popularity.