In recent times, more and more right-wing politicians are being targeted in court instead of at the ballot box. This is happening with Matteo Salvini in Italy, Donald Trump in the United States, and now Marine Le Pen could be the next target.
Marine Le Pen, the presidential candidate and leader of the National Rally in France, is set to stand trial on Monday for alleged misuse of European parliamentary funds, as reported by the BBC. More than 20 other leading figures of the party are also facing the same accusation. Prosecutors claim that the parliamentary assistant contracts were awarded to individuals who were mainly involved in the party’s activities rather than European Union affairs. Le Pen has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
If Le Pen is found guilty, she could face fines, imprisonment, and her presidential ambitions could be jeopardized by a verdict. The party’s spokesperson, Laurent Jacobelli, stated that they will prove that there is no system enabling the embezzlement of EU funds.
“We will show that it is possible to be a European parliamentary assistant and be involved in the life of the National Rally,” the spokesperson told the French media on Monday.
The case first came to light in 2015 and pertains to contracts of parliamentary assistants between 2004 and 2016. Le Pen is facing trial as a party leader and former EU lawmaker. Prosecutors allege that one of the individuals hired as a parliamentary assistant actually worked as a bodyguard for Le Pen and her father. Prosecutors are seeking more than three million euros. The National Rally has already repaid one million euros – they claim this does not imply an admission of guilt. The trial is expected to last for nearly two months.
