Marine Le Pen's Appeal Trial Concludes with Verdict Pending for Months
The appeal trial of Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader of France's National Rally, concluded on Wednesday in a Paris courthouse, leaving judges to deliberate for several months before issuing a verdict that will critically impact her political future. This case centres on allegations of embezzling European parliament funds, with the outcome determining whether Le Pen can stand in the 2027 French presidential election.
Defence Arguments and Denials of Wrongdoing
During the trial's closing arguments, Le Pen's defence lawyer, Sandra Chirac Kollarik, vehemently asserted that her client did not orchestrate any system to misuse funds. "At no moment did Marine Le Pen imagine that she broke the rules," Kollarik told the court, adding, "Never in her life would she have deliberately accepted making a false contract." Le Pen, 57, herself denied organising a fake jobs scheme, stating that all job contracts for European parliament assistants were transparent and that she felt no wrongdoing had been committed.
Background and Previous Conviction
Le Pen, once a top contender for the upcoming presidential election, was convicted last March in a trial that found her at the heart of a carefully organised embezzlement system from 2004 to 2016. This conviction resulted in a five-year ban from running for public office, effective immediately, along with a four-year prison sentence—two years suspended and two to be served with an electronic bracelet—and a €100,000 fine. She appealed this verdict, seeking to overturn it and clear her name to pursue another presidential bid.
Prosecution's Case and Allegations
State prosecutors have urged the appeal court to uphold the election ban, arguing that Le Pen was central to a "thought-out," "centralised," and almost "industrial" scheme to embezzle funds. They alleged that taxpayer money intended for European parliament assistants in Strasbourg or Brussels was diverted to pay party workers in France, violating parliamentary rules and resulting in an estimated loss of €4.8 million to EU funds. Prosecutors noted that the party, then called Front National, made substantial savings through this system.
Political Implications and Future Scenarios
The verdict, expected before summer, will decide if Le Pen can make a fourth presidential attempt in 2027. If the ban is maintained, she would likely be replaced by her protege, 30-year-old Jordan Bardella, the current party president. Prosecutors also criticised Le Pen for publicly attacking judges after the initial verdict, accusing her of political grandstanding rather than reflecting on the charges.
Judicial Process and Next Steps
Judges have now retired to consider their verdict over several months, with the decision poised to shape not only Le Pen's career but also the landscape of French politics. The trial highlights ongoing tensions between judicial oversight and political ambitions in France.
