On September 30th a process of great importance that he sees at the bar 27 French Far Right Politicians, including the same Marine Le Pen, leader of the Rassemblement National (RN) and his father Jean-Marie. At the heart of the proceedings is the accusation of misappropriation of European public funds, an event that could have serious repercussions on Le Pen's political future, including her possible ineligibility.
The accusation against Le Pen: European funds destined for the party
The heart of the charges dates back to the period between 2004 and 2016, when, according to the prosecution, the party then known as the Front National had diverted European funds intended for parliamentary assistants to finance party-related activities in France. In particular, RN MEPs allegedly employed assistants paid with European public money for activities related to national politics, rather than to carry out tasks related to their European mandate.
La the disputed amount is 6,8 million euros, and the Paris prosecutor's office has formalized charges of embezzlement and complicity. The European Parliament has joined the civil action, and the trial represents a crucial step in the long dispute between the institution and Le Pen's party.
Marine Le Pen and the other 26 defendants
Between the main defendants there are prominent names of the RN, starting with Marine Le Pen and her father Jean-Marie, the historic founder of the party. Other defendants include Louis Aliot, mayor of Perpignan and former partner of Le Pen, Nicolas Bay, former secretary general of the party, and numerous former MEPs and collaborators. In total, 27 people are accused of having contributed to a system that would have diverted European funds for internal political purposes.
Marine Le Pen said that be “serene” and promised to present solid evidence to support his defense. “We have not violated any political rule, nor any regulation of the European Parliament,” he said upon his arrival in court. But the stakes are very high.
The possible consequences: ineligibility and prison
The process could have devastating consequences for the political future of Marine Le Pen. If convicted, the far-right leader faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine that could reach one million euros. The most worrying element for Le Pen, however, is the possible suspension of his civil rights for a period of five years, which would make her ineligible. A serious blow to her political aspirations, especially in view of the 2027 presidential elections, for which the polls give her as one of the strongest candidates.
Ineligibility, in fact, would shatter Le Pen's dream of become the first female president of France, a goal he has been working towards for years, after several electoral defeats but with growing popular consensus.
Le Pen's defense: "Political conspiracy"
Marine Le Pen has rejected all the accusations, calling them part of a “political conspiracy” orchestrated by her opponents to stop her political rise. According to the RN leader, there is no clear distinction between the activities carried out by parliamentary assistants in Brussels and those for the party in France, stressing that there has been no violation of European rules.
Le Pen also accused the prosecutor of act in line with the “philosophy” of his political enemies, suggesting that the trial was staged to undermine her path to the Elysée. The leader has promised to attend the hearings regularly, which will be held three times a week until the trial concludes on November 27, 2024.
A possible conviction of Marine Le Pen could destabilize his party and trigger a leadership crisis, just as the Michel Barnier's new government, formed by the "republican front" and created to contain the RN, appears fragile, with the possibility of new elections within a year.
