Far-right French political leader Marine Le Pen faces potentially severe legal consequences in an ongoing trial involving allegations of illegal party funding. The Paris prosecutor has requested a five-year prison sentence and a five-year ban from political office for Le Pen and her National Rally (RN) party.
The case centers on accusations that Le Pen and over 20 other senior party figures improperly used European Parliament funds by hiring assistants who primarily worked on party business rather than performing legitimate parliamentary duties. Specifically, the prosecution alleges that RN staff members from Paris were employed as EU parliamentary assistants in Brussels, but rarely actually worked in the European Parliament.
If convicted, Le Pen would not only face potential imprisonment but also a significant fine of €300,000. Importantly, the proposed prison sentence is described as “convertible,” meaning she may not necessarily serve actual prison time. However, the proposed ban on political office would take effect immediately and would not be delayed by potential appeals, which could critically impact her political future.
Le Pen has strongly denied the charges, characterizing the prosecution’s demands as an “outrage” and suggesting the legal action is an attempt to “ruin” her party. She argues that the prosecution is trying to prevent French citizens from voting for their preferred candidates.
The RN party chairman, Jordan Bardella, has also condemned the prosecution, calling it an “assault on democracy” and claiming the legal proceedings are seeking to “persecute and take revenge” on Le Pen.
Le Pen’s political standing remains significant despite her defeat in the 2022 presidential election to Emmanuel Macron. The RN currently holds the largest representation in the National Assembly, making this legal challenge particularly consequential.
The prosecution maintains that the law applies equally to all defendants. A lawyer representing the European Parliament suggested the prosecution’s demands are consistent and expected.
The trial, which began recently, is scheduled to continue until November 27th. Le Pen’s defense has argued that parliamentary assistants are naturally involved in political work, which is why they were initially attracted to such positions.
The potential immediate ban from political office is particularly noteworthy, as it could effectively prevent Le Pen from running in the 2027 presidential election. This aspect of the prosecution’s request goes beyond typical legal proceedings, potentially reshaping the future landscape of French political leadership.
The case highlights ongoing tensions in French political circles and raises significant questions about the use of parliamentary resources and the boundaries between party political work and official parliamentary duties.
As the trial progresses, the potential legal and political ramifications for Le Pen and the National Rally party remain substantial, with the outcome likely to have far-reaching implications for French politics.
