PARIS (AP) — French far-right leader Marine Le Pen is to answer questions from judges at a court in Paris on Monday her and her National Rally party on trial for suspected embezzlement of European Parliament funds. She has denied any wrongdoing.
The nine-week trial is a crucial moment for Le Pen, who is expected to be a strong candidate in the next French presidential election in 2027. A guilty verdict could significantly affect her political career and ambitions.
The National Rally and 25 of its top officials were tried last month for using money intended for EU parliamentary staff to pay staff who worked for the party between 2004 and 2016, in violation of the 27-nation bloc’s rules . The National Rally it was called the National Front at the time.
Le Pen will answer court questions for three consecutive days from Monday on the use of EU money to pay her bodyguard, her chief of staff and two other party aides.
When the trial started last month, she promised to present “solid arguments” showing that she and other party officials “have not violated any political and regulatory rules of the European Parliament.”
If found guilty, Le Pen and her co-defendants could face a prison sentence of up to 10 years and fines of up to 1 million euros ($1.1 million) each. Additional penalties could also be imposed, such as loss of civil rights or ineligibility for office, a scenario that would undermine Le Pen’s goal of launching a new presidential bid after the end of President Emmanuel Macron’s term , could hinder or even nullify it. Le Pen came second to Macron in the 2017 and 2022 presidential elections.
Two other National Rally officials, including the party’s historic leader Jean-Marie, Le Pen’s father, have faced similar charges but have been exempted from prosecution on health grounds.
The trial is expected to last until November 27.