Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s far-right National Rally and a presidential candidate, appeared in a Paris court on Monday to face charges of misusing European parliamentary funds. Alongside her, more than 20 other senior party officials are also implicated in the scandal. They are accused of hiring parliamentary assistants who were allegedly engaged in party activities rather than their official duties for the European Parliament.
If convicted, Le Pen could face fines, imprisonment, and even be barred from holding office for up to 10 years, significantly impacting her presidential aspirations. Le Pen has consistently denied any wrongdoing, with party spokesman Laurent Jacobelli stating, “We are going to prove that there is no system to embezzle money from the EU.”
Upon her arrival at the court, Le Pen expressed confidence, asserting that she and her associates had not violated any political regulations. Notably, her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, the 96-year-old founder of the National Front (now National Rally), also faces charges but will not be attending the trial due to health issues.
The allegations date back to 2015, concerning contracts for parliamentary assistants between 2004 and 2016. Prosecutors contend that one individual hired as an assistant was actually serving as a bodyguard for both Le Pen and her father. They are seeking to recover over €3 million (£2.5 million), although the National Rally has already repaid €1 million (£834,000), claiming this was not an admission of guilt.
The trial is anticipated to last nearly two months. Le Pen, who stepped down as president of the National Front in 2017, has run for the presidency in 2012, 2017, and 2022, and is preparing for a potential candidacy in 2027. Her party advocates for stringent immigration policies, law and order initiatives, and tax reductions. In the recent parliamentary elections, the National Rally finished third, despite a strong performance in the preceding European Parliament elections. Following these elections, President Emmanuel Macron formed a right-wing government.
