French far-right leader Le Pen stands trial over alleged misuse of EU funds
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Marine Le Pen will stand trial in a Paris criminal court on Sept 30 alongside 26 others over alleged misappropriation of European Union funds.
PHOTO: REUTERS
PARIS - Marine Le Pen, the leading figure of France’s far-right National Rally (RN) party, went on trial on Sept 30 accused of misappropriating European Union funds and said she was confident she would prove she did nothing wrong.
Le Pen, the RN itself, and 24 others – party officials, employees, former lawmakers and parliamentary assistants – are accused of using money destined for work at the European Parliament to pay staff who were working for their party, which at the time was called the National Front.
Le Pen and the other accused say the way they used the money was legitimate and that the allegations show too narrow a definition of what a parliamentary assistant does. “I approach this trial with great peace of mind,” Le Pen told reporters as she arrived at the criminal tribunal in Paris.
The trial could potentially be damaging for Le Pen, who, if found guilty, risks being barred from public office for several years for accusations she denies.
But if it clears her of wrongdoing, the trial, which comes almost a decade after initial investigations started, could also help Le Pen further polish her image and that of her party ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
“We have seen in the case of Trump how he gathered strength and support through all his trials,” Eurointelligence analysts wrote in a note, referring to US court cases involving former president Donald Trump. “It can also pitch national interests against European ones. The base of staunch Le Pen supporters could grow.”
Le Pen, who lost to Mr Emmanuel Macron in the second round of France’s presidential election in 2017 and 2022, is widely seen as a front runner in 2027.
The European Parliament has estimated the damage at €3.5 million (S$5.02 million), its lawyer said.
EU lawmakers are allocated funds to cover expenses, including their assistants, but these funds are not meant to be used to cross-fund party activities.
Le Pen and her party, which argues for “France first” policies on issues ranging from immigration to energy markets to agriculture, reject the allegations.
RN lawmaker and party spokesman Laurent Jacobelli told Reuters last week that what was at stake was a different understanding, as a French party, of what an assistant role is, compared with the European Parliament’s understanding.
Le Pen is facing charges both over her role as party leader and as an EU lawmaker who hired allegedly fictitious assistants herself.
If found guilty, Le Pen and other defendants could face a potential jail sentence of up to 10 years and a €1 million (S$1.43 million) fine.
In addition, those like Le Pen who were elected officials at the time of the alleged offences risk being barred from public office for up to 10 years. Those who were not elected officials could be barred for up to five years.
Marine Le Pen’s father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, 96, was also among the accused, but, at the start of the proceedings, the judge said that, for health reasons, he and one other accused were not fit to stand trial and would be judged separately at a later stage.
The trial will last until Nov 27. REUTERS
