Le Pen loses defamation lawsuit against French newspaper

Le Pen allegedly insulted police officers London - Arabstoday French far right leader Marine Le Pen’s defamation lawsuit against the satirical newspaper ‘Le Canard Enchaîné’ was dismissed by a court in Paris on Tuesday. In 2011, the newspaper reported that back in 2003, Le Pen insulted police officers following a drunken night in Paris in the  company of members of other right wing organisations.  The police were called – allegedly – because of the noise. The now-leader of the National Front apparently received the police officers, telling them: “it’s easier to persecute proper French people than Arab chavs.” Marine Le Pen denied saying these words, reported the newspaper. The magistrates who reviewed the case considered that the newspaper’s sources were serious. Other newspapers also reported the incident at the time, but were never sued by Le Pen.