French far-right leader Marine Le Pen is set to appear before judges at a Paris court as she and her National Rally party are being tried for the suspected embezzlement of European Parliament funds. The trial, which began last month, is a crucial moment for Le Pen, who is considered a strong contender in France's upcoming presidential election in 2027.
The allegations against Le Pen and 25 top officials of the National Rally involve the misuse of funds meant for EU parliamentary aides to pay party staff between 2004 and 2016, a violation of EU regulations. At the time, the National Rally was known as the National Front.
Le Pen is expected to face questioning from the court over the use of EU funds to cover expenses for her bodyguard, chief of staff, and two other party aides. She has maintained her innocence, pledging to provide evidence that she and her colleagues did not breach any European Parliament rules.
If found guilty, Le Pen and her co-defendants could potentially face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to 1 million euros each. Moreover, they could be subject to additional penalties such as the loss of civil rights or disqualification from holding public office, jeopardizing Le Pen's political ambitions, including a future presidential bid.
Notably, two other National Rally officials, including Le Pen's father Jean-Marie, have been excused from prosecution due to health reasons. The trial is expected to continue until November 27, with the outcome likely to have significant implications for Le Pen's political future.
