A Paris court has begun ruling on an embezzlement case 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 staff who worked for the party between 2004 and 2016, breaking the 27-nation bloc's rules.
Ms Le Pen and her allies deny all accusations.
Ms Le Pen's biggest fear is that the court could disqualify her from standing in the election “with immediate effect” – even if she appeals.
This could prevent her from running for president in 2027, a scenario she has described as “political death.”
On Friday, the Constitutional Council ruled in another case that immediate sentencing was constitutional.
If convicted, Ms Le Pen and her allies could also face up to 10 years in prison. They could appeal the verdict, which would lead to a new trial.
Ms Le Pen came second to President Emmanuel Macron in the 2017 and 2022 presidential elections, and her party has managed to increase its electoral support in recent years.
The nine-week process will be completed at the end of 2024.
Ms Le Pen has rejected accusations that she led a “system” designed to siphon funds from the EU parliament to benefit her party, which she led from 2011 to 2021.
Instead, she argued that it would be acceptable to tailor the work of assistants paid by the European Parliament to the demands of lawmakers, including certain political tasks associated with the party then called the National Front.
During questioning, Ms Le Pen told the court: “I absolutely do not believe that I have committed the slightest violation, the slightest illegal act.”
The hearing revealed that some EU funds were used to pay for Ms Le Pen's bodyguard, who once protected her father, and her personal assistant.
Prosecutors asked the court to find Ms Le Pen guilty and asked for a sentence of two years in prison and a five-year ban from holding public office.
Ms Le Pen said she believed they were “only interested” in preventing her from running for president.
Prosecutors also insisted on an indictment.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
