For weeks, Marine Le Pen has fought accusations of embezzling European Parliament funds, a high-stakes trial that may impact her 2027 presidential bid. Prosecutors, alleging that Le Pen’s National Rally party (formerly National Front) misused EU funds for party salaries rather than parliamentary aide roles, are expected to propose a sentence on Wednesday. Le Pen and her 25 co-defendants, if found guilty, face potential prison sentences and fines, with Le Pen particularly focused on the risk of ineligibility to run for office.
In court, Le Pen has been visibly engaged, often disagreeing with the allegations, consulting her lawyers, and insisting the accusations misinterpret standard practices. She argues that parliamentary aides’ roles are adaptable, encompassing various tasks such as speechwriting and legal support. While Le Pen maintains that the EU’s scrutiny began only after 2015, some co-defendants have appeared uncertain, often needing clarifications from her as they testified.
The court’s president, Bénédicte de Perthuis, emphasized that the trial will focus solely on determining if the aides served EU parliamentary duties or National Rally interests. European Parliament lawyer Patrick Maisonneuve argues the fraud is evident, estimating the misused funds at 4.5 million euros. Outside the courtroom, Le Pen reiterated her innocence, framing the accusations as an unfair misjudgment of her party’s practices. The trial is expected to conclude on November 27, with a final verdict to follow.
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