Marine Le Pen to Stand Trial Over Alleged Misuse of EU Funds

The National Rally leader, along with 27 others, faces charges of misappropriating funds intended for parliamentary assistants to pay party staff.

Marine Le Pen, leader of France's National Rally party, and 27 others, including her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, are set to stand trial over allegations of misappropriating EU funds.
The charges allege that EU funds intended for parliamentary assistants were used to pay party staff between 2004 and 2016.
The National Rally party has contested the accusations, stating that there were no irregularities in the employment of parliamentary assistants.
If convicted, Le Pen could face a 10-year jail sentence, a €1 million fine, and a 10-year ban from holding public office.
Despite the charges, Le Pen, who ran against Emmanuel Macron in the 2017 and 2022 presidential elections, is expected to present her candidacy again in 2027.