PARIS — Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s far-right National Rally party, is set to appear before judges in a Paris court on Monday in connection with allegations of misappropriating funds from the European Parliament. She has consistently denied any wrongdoing throughout this process.
This nine-week trial marks a pivotal moment for Le Pen, who is considered a significant candidate for the upcoming presidential election in 2027. A conviction could have serious implications for her political ambitions moving forward.
Last month, Le Pen and 25 other high-ranking officials from her party began facing charges related to the alleged misuse of funds meant for European Union parliamentary aides, which were instead used to compensate party staff from 2004 to 2016. At that time, the party was known as the National Front.
Le Pen will be questioned in court over several days, starting Monday, focusing on how EU funds were used to cover expenses for her bodyguard, her chief of staff, and two additional party officials.
During the trial’s commencement last month, Le Pen stated her intention to provide “solid arguments” to demonstrate that neither she nor other party officials infringed upon the operational and political regulations set forth by the European Parliament.
Should she and her co-defendants be found guilty, they could be sentenced to up to a decade in prison and may face fines of as much as 1 million euros (approximately $1.1 million) each. Other potential consequences include the loss of civil rights or being deemed ineligible to hold public office, which would pose a significant obstacle to Le Pen’s aspirations for a future presidential campaign following President Emmanuel Macron’s tenure. Le Pen has previously been the runner-up in the presidential elections of 2017 and 2022.
In addition, two other officials from the National Rally, including Jean-Marie Le Pen, the party’s former leader and Marine’s father, have encountered similar accusations; however, they have been spared from legal action due to health issues.
The proceedings of the trial are expected to take place until November 27.
