The leader of France’s far-right National Rally, Marine Le Pen, is currently facing a trial that could greatly impact her political future. Accused of embezzling EU parliamentary funds, Le Pen and 24 National Rally officials are under intense scrutiny. Paris prosecutors have requested a 2-year prison sentence for Le Pen, along with an additional 5-year period of ineligibility to run for office. This trial is crucial as it may affect Le Pen’s ability to participate in the 2027 presidential race. The National Rally party and its officials are accused of diverting funds intended for EU parliamentary aides to pay staff that worked for the party instead, violating EU regulations.
The ongoing trial sees the prosecutors seeking a guilty verdict for Le Pen and 25 other officials, including fines and prison sentences. The prosecutors have also requested that the period of ineligibility for Le Pen be declared effective immediately, regardless of whether she decides to appeal. Le Pen remained composed in the courtroom as she listened to the prosecutors’ demands, stating that she felt the prosecutors were primarily interested in preventing her from running for president in 2027. Le Pen, who was the runner-up to President Macron in the 2017 and 2022 elections, has denied running a system to siphon off EU funds for the party’s benefit.
During the trial, Le Pen argued that the aides’ roles were to be adapted to the MEPs’ different activities, including political missions related to the party. She emphasized that being a parliamentary aide did not determine the nature of the job or the work required. Many of Le Pen’s co-defendants testified under her close supervision, with some providing embarrassed explanations regarding their work’s relationship with the EU parliament. Le Pen pointed out that the party had not faced any issues from the Parliament until an alert was raised in 2015 about possible fraudulent use of EU funds by National Front members.
Le Pen expressed concerns that the court might misinterpret the party’s legitimate practices as fraudulent. She emphasized the need to differentiate between ordinary practices and actual wrongdoing. The president of the court reminded everyone that despite any political implications, the court’s focus remains on legal reasoning and investigating whether parliamentary aides were working for the MEPs they were attached to or for the National Rally. The lawyer for the European Parliament estimated the cost of embezzlement to be around €4.5 million, stating that the fraud had been significantly established during the trial proceedings.
The outcome of this trial holds significant weight for Marine Le Pen and her future political aspirations. If found guilty, she could face prison time and a period of ineligibility to run for office, hampering her chances in the 2027 presidential race. The allegations of embezzlement and misuse of EU funds have put Le Pen and the National Rally party under intense scrutiny. As the trial nears its conclusion, the court’s decision will have lasting implications for the French political landscape and the future of the far-right movement in the country. The legal proceedings have shed light on the alleged financial misconduct within the party and have raised questions about the integrity of political figures like Le Pen.
