A Paris court has opened a fraud trial that could rock France's political scene and threaten the career of far-right leader Marine Le Pen.
Ms Le Pen and 24 other officials from her National Rally are accused of using funds intended for assistants in the European Parliament to pay party workers between 2004 and 2016, in violation of rules in the 27-nation European Union.
Ms Le Pen and her supporters deny all accusations.
Ms Le Pen's biggest worry is the possibility that the court could bar her from running “with immediate effect” even if she appeals.
This could prevent her from running for president in 2027, an outcome she has described as “political death.”
On Friday, the Constitutional Council confirmed in a separate case that immediate sentencing is constitutional.
If convicted, Ms Le Pen and her allies could face up to 10 years in prison. They will be able to appeal the ruling, which would lead to a new trial.
Ms Le Pen came second in the 2017 and 2022 presidential elections, and support for her party has grown significantly in recent years.
The nine-week process will be completed at the end of 2024.
Ms Le Pen has rejected claims that she oversaw a “system” aimed at diverting European Parliament funds to benefit her party, which she led from 2011 to 2021.
She insisted it would be wise to tailor the work of assistants funded by the European Parliament to the needs of lawmakers, including some political activity linked to the party formerly known as the National Front.
During her testimony, Ms Le Pen told the court: “I absolutely do not believe that I have committed the slightest violation or illegal act.”
During the hearing it emerged that some of the EU funds were used to pay for Ms Le Pen's bodyguard, who had previously been her father's bodyguard, as well as her personal assistant.
Prosecutors have called for Ms Le Pen to be found guilty and asked for a two-year prison sentence and a five-year ban on holding public office.
Ms Le Pen says she believes prosecutors are “exclusively interested” in preventing her from running for president.
Prosecutors also asked for convictions for other co-conspirators, including various sentences, up to one
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
