Trial Begins for France’s Le Pen and 26 Co-Defendants Accused of Misusing EU Funds
Prosecutors say that one of the defendants, Thierry Legier, received a salary as a parliamentary assistant but actually worked as a bodyguard for Le Pen and her father, Jean-Marie.
Marine Le Pen, who led France’s right-wing National Rally (RN) party for a decade, is set to go on trial in Paris along with 26 others on Monday. They are accused of misappropriating European Union funds.
Le Pen, who handed over leadership of the RN in 2022 to Jordan Bardella, faces charges relating to her role as party leader and as a member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2017.
The investigation, which began ten years ago, covers alleged offenses that predate her first presidential campaign in 2012.
Denying all charges, Le Pen is accused of creating fictitious assistant positions paid from EU funds. Prosecutors highlight that Thierry Legier, one of the defendants, was paid as a parliamentary assistant from 2005 to 2012 while serving as a bodyguard for Le Pen and her father.
European Parliament members receive funds for expenses and assistant salaries, separate from party political activities.
Marine Le Pen’s successor, Jordan Bardella, who served as a parliamentary assistant before his time as an MEP, is not part of the trial. Jean-Marie Le Pen, who is now 96 and in poor health, is also not indicted.
Verdicts are Expected in November
The trial is expected to conclude by the end of November, with potential sentences including jail time of up to 10 years, a one million euro fine, and a ban from public office for up to five years if found guilty.
Allegations and investigations surrounding Le Pen have cast a shadow on her political career. Le Pen sees the trial as an opportunity to clear her name and has defended the nature of assistant roles in political parties.
RN representatives maintain that they had a distinct understanding of assistant roles compared to the European Parliament.
Despite previous losses to Emmanuel Macron in presidential elections, Le Pen is anticipated to run in 2027. However, a conviction could jeopardize her candidacy.
Investigations into the RN’s alleged illegal financing of Le Pen’s 2022 campaign have also been initiated separately by the Paris prosecutor’s office.
Assistants and Funds Misuse Accusations
Marine Le Pen and her co-defendants deny the charges, with the RN reimbursing 1 million euros to the European Parliament. A portion of this sum is attributed to alleged misuse of funds by Le Pen.
Prosecutors claim the RN faced financial challenges and secured a sizable loan from a Russian bank in 2014 after gaining 24 seats in the European Parliament elections.
Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
