In a high-stakes legal battle at the Palais de Justice in Paris, Marine Le Pen, the leader of France's far-right National Rally, has vehemently denied allegations of orchestrating a system to misuse European parliament funds. The appeal trial, which could determine her eligibility for the 2027 presidential election, saw Le Pen challenge last year's guilty verdict over a fake jobs scam.
Le Pen's Defence Against Embezzlement Charges
During her testimony on Tuesday, Le Pen, 57, insisted that there was no organised scheme within her party to divert taxpayer money intended for European parliament assistants. "The word 'system' bothers me because it gives the impression of a manipulation," she told the court, refuting claims that she instructed members of the European parliament to hire assistants who actually worked for the party's headquarters in Paris.
Le Pen, a lawyer by profession, stated emphatically, "Never in my life would I ask a member of the European parliament to take assistants to work for the Front National." She is appealing a verdict from last March that found her guilty of an extensive embezzlement operation spanning from 2004 to 2016, resulting in a five-year ban from public office and a four-year prison sentence, with parts suspended.
Key Evidence and Allegations in the Trial
The appeals court heard that European funds, allocated for assistants based in Strasbourg or Brussels, were allegedly siphoned off to pay party workers in France, violating parliament rules. The estimated loss to European funds is €4.8 million (£4.2 million), with staff in France having no connection to European parliament duties.
Head judge Michèle Agi presented an email as evidence, where one European parliament member warned the party treasurer about signing for fictitious jobs, noting that Marine Le Pen was aware. Le Pen denied knowledge of this email, stating she was not copied in and would have responded differently. She also dismissed allegations from former party members as "false" and motivated by hostility, likening it to "a divorce."
Political Implications and Future Prospects
The outcome of this appeal trial, expected before summer, is crucial for Le Pen's political career. If the verdict is upheld, she faces a ban from running in the 2027 presidential election, potentially ending her fourth bid for the presidency. In such a scenario, her protege, 30-year-old Jordan Bardella, the party president, would likely step in as a replacement candidate.
Le Pen, who was considered a top contender for next year's election before her conviction, maintains her innocence and insists on her right to run again. The trial involves 10 other party members appealing their convictions, with proceedings set to conclude on 12 February. This case originated from a 2015 alert by then European parliament president Martin Schulz about possible fraud, highlighting ongoing scrutiny of political funding practices.
