A Paris court is set to deliver its verdict Tuesday in the long-running case accusing Marine Le Pen of embezzling €4.4 million from the European Parliament. The charges allege her party used the funds to pay French staff rather than EU parliamentary assistants. Le Pen has denied wrongdoing and hopes for acquittal or a reduced penalty.
The case strikes at the heart of Le Pen's political future. A conviction could bar her from public office and derail her candidacy for the 2027 presidential election. The trial has already shifted the dynamics of her far-right party, with some allies preparing for a leadership transition.
The European Parliament has been pursuing similar cases against other MEPs, accusing them of defrauding the institution's budget. Le Pen and 24 co-defendants face allegations of creating a system that funneled parliamentary funds to party operatives in France. The alleged scheme ran from 2004 to 2016.
If convicted, Le Pen could face up to ten years in prison and a fine of €1 million, though experts consider a custodial sentence unlikely. The verdict will also test the resilience of her political movement, which has become a major force in French politics. Observers note the party has already begun to distance itself from its founder.
Critics argue the prosecution is politically motivated, pointing to the timing ahead of the next presidential vote. They contend the European Parliament's rules on expenses are deliberately vague, leaving room for interpretation. Le Pen's defense has maintained that all work was legitimate and within the bounds of parliamentary guidelines.