Overview
- Appellate proceedings began in Paris with Marine Le Pen and eleven co-defendants over alleged misuse of European Parliament assistant salaries from 2004 to 2016.
- In March 2025 a Paris court convicted Le Pen, imposing four years in prison with two suspended and a €100,000 fine, and ordered an immediate five-year ban on standing in elections.
- The party faces financial penalties linked to assessed losses of about €4.3–4.4 million, with roughly €1.1 million already repaid to the European Parliament.
- Hearings are set through mid‑February, including a first appearance for Le Pen later in January, and the court has indicated it will deliver a judgment by summer.
- Le Pen maintains her innocence and has changed legal counsel, while RN leader Jordan Bardella has declared full support and is poised to head the ticket if she remains barred.