A French far-right party leader is set to face a verdict on Monday that could impact her future in politics. Marine Le Pen, 56, and her National Rally party are accused of embezzling European Parliament funds between 2004 and 2016.
Le Pen denies wrongdoing and faces charges of using EU parliamentary funds to pay staff for the party. If convicted, she risks being declared ineligible to seek public office with immediate effect or facing a prison sentence that could be suspended during an appeal.
The Constitutional Council has ruled that a period of ineligibility is in line with French law but emphasized the importance of proportionality and preserving voters’ freedom. The court’s decision on Le Pen’s fate will have significant implications for her 2027 presidential campaign bid.
Le Pen’s closest associate, Jordan Bardella, would likely be her prime minister if she were barred from running. However, observers question whether he can replicate Le Pen’s popularity among voters.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/marine-le-pen-france-trial-verdict-58b6927782509cee09541fdace91fcaf