French investigators ask EU to lift Le Pen immunity over fund misuse

French magistrates have asked the European Parliament to suspend immunity of far-right presidency front-runner Marine Le Pen as part of an investigation into alleged misuse of parliamentary salaries, a local report said on Friday.

Investigating judges issued at the end of March a request to lift Le Pen immunity so that she would be questioned into the allegation that she used European fund to pay her party staff, local broadcaster Europe 1 reported.

The judges also requested suspension of immunity of Marie-Christine Boutonnet, another far-rightist legislator over using European salaries to pay assistants working for the party, the report added.

Speaking to France info radio earlier on Friday, Le Pen said the judge's request was "a normal procedure."

The European Parliament has accused Le Pen of paying party staff working in France with European Union (EU) funds worth 340,000 euros (361,114 U.S. dollars), after she claimed they were European parliamentary assistants.

Citing her parliamentary immunity, the anti-immigrant and eurosceptic presidential contender, in March, refused magistrate's summon over the affair, saying she will accept to answer judges' questions over the fake job claim after the two-round election scheduled for April 23 and May 7.

In December 2016, French prosecutor opened an investigation for breach of trust, fraud and forgery following the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) initial findings.

Last month, the European Parliament suspended Le Pen immunity in another inquiry in relation with tweeting images of Islamic State violence. (1 euro=1.062 U.S. dollars) Endit