The Paris Prosecutor’s Office recently made an announcement, stating that it has requested a trial for over 20 National Rally (RN) members, suspected of embezzlement of European public funds across a span of 12 years. It has been reported by AFP. Among the accused is the RN Leader, Marine Le Pen, her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, and additional parliamentary assistants.
The launch of the investigation occurred in December 2016, with suspicions that Marine Le Pen, alongside other MEPs, was misusing EU funds to financially support their assistants working for the National Front. The RN has made their stance clear, firmly rejecting all the accusations, stating that the role of a parliamentary assistant is political in nature.
Procedures are also in place to indict the mayor of Perpignan, Louis Aliot and the deputy of the National Rally, Bruno Gollnisch for additional charges of alleged collusion and embezzlement. Currently, Marine Le Pen and her party have their focus directed towards the forthcoming European Parliament elections of June. However, if the prosecutor’s office petition is accepted by the judge, the implications would potentially include a 10 year prison sentence and a fine amounting to €1 million for Le Pen, along with a ban on holding office for the next 10 years.
More about the ongoing case and its implications for the future political landscape can be found on JURIST – News.