Former Frontex chief stands for Le Pen party in European elections

DPA
·1 min read
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Fabrice Leggeri, then Director of the EU border protection agency Frontex, attends the closed meeting of the CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag at Seeon Monastery in Seeon. Leggeri, is running for Marine Le Pen's French right-wing populist party in the European elections in June. Tobias Hase/dpa
Fabrice Leggeri, then Director of the EU border protection agency Frontex, attends the closed meeting of the CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag at Seeon Monastery in Seeon. Leggeri, is running for Marine Le Pen's French right-wing populist party in the European elections in June. Tobias Hase/dpa
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The former head of the European border protection agency Frontex, Fabrice Leggeri, is running for Marine Le Pen's French right-wing populist party in the European elections in June.

Leggeri said on Saturday evening that he had joined the National Rally party list. He put migration at the forefront of his candidacy announcement, saying he would fight for tougher EU immigrations rules if elected.

Leggeri resigned as Frontex chief in 2022 after serious accusations were made against him and his staff over the treatment of migrants trying to reach the European Union.

Under Leggeri, Frontex managers were said to have deliberately covered up the fact that Greek border guards were returning refugees to the open Mediterranean. Turning back people seeking protection at the EU's external borders - so-called "pushbacks" - is illegal.

With under four months until elections are held across EU countries to choose the next European Parliament, surveys show Le Pen's party in the lead and significantly outperforming French President Emmanuel Macron's centrist camp.