- Marine Le Pen on trial for EU embezzlement case
- More than 20 other senior figures in the party facing the same charges
- Accused of hiring assistants who worked on party affairs rather than for the European parliament which paid them
- Le Pen has denied any wrongdoing
Marine Le Pen on trial for EU embezzlement case
Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Rally, is on trial in Paris for allegedly misusing European parliamentary funds. Alongside more than 20 senior party members, Le Pen is accused of hiring parliamentary assistants who were paid by the European Parliament but worked on party-related matters. If convicted, Le Pen could face fines, imprisonment, and a ban from running for office for up to 10 years, potentially derailing her 2027 presidential bid.
Le Pen has denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that she and her colleagues did not violate any political rules. Her party spokesperson defended the legality of parliamentary assistants being involved in party affairs, vowing to prove there was no embezzlement scheme. The trial, which is expected to last for nearly two months, dates back to allegations first raised in 2015.
The case also involves Le Pen’s father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, the 96-year-old founder of the National Front (now National Rally), who faces similar charges but will not attend the trial due to health issues. Prosecutors are seeking to recover over 3 million euros, though the party has already repaid 1 million euros, insisting it is not an admission of guilt.