France’s National Front leader Marine Le Pen has defied a deadline set by the EU authorities for her to repay funds they claim she has misspent.<br /><br /> Le Pen who is also a member of the European Parliament, is to be docked 7,000 euros a month from her EU parliamentary earnings, as of Wednesday, in order to pay back a 300,000 euro bill.<br /><br /> The parliament says that in 2011-12 she paid party staff with the funds, which according to rules should only go to lawmakers’ assistants working within the legislature.<br /><br /> It means her monthly parliamentary income will be reduced to 3,000 euros.<br /><br /> In the past five other National Front European lawmakers including Le Pen’s father, Jean-Marie, have faced salary cuts because of misused money that was not reimbursed.<br /><br /> Several EU lawmakers from other political groupings have also been investigated for expenses that were not in line with EU rules. Most have agreed to reimburse misspent money.<br /><br /> Marine Le Pen, who has launched a court challenge against the repayment demand, is among several far-right and populist MEP’s who, while receiving a parliamentary salary, actively campaign for withdrawal from the European bloc.<br />
