Overview

• Marine Le Pen and 24 National Rally officials are accused of embezzling €7 million in European Parliament funds meant for parliamentary aides between 2004 and 2016.
• If convicted, Le Pen could face a five-year ban from public office, a €300,000 fine, and a prison sentence, with the ban potentially taking immediate effect.
• The Constitutional Council recently upheld the legality of immediate ineligibility for public office upon conviction, intensifying the stakes for Le Pen.
• Le Pen has denied all charges, framing the trial as a politically motivated attack aimed at ending her career and undermining voter representation.
• If barred from running in 2027, her successor Jordan Bardella is seen as a potential replacement, but concerns remain about his ability to match her electoral appeal.