The court has to decide whether Le Pen will be excluded from the President Race
| The decision on what punishment will be imposed will be made clear later in the day. Le Pen, the leader of the far -right party “National gathering” (RN), is a favorite in sociological studies before the 2027 election. |
The prosecutor’s office insists on the entry into force of an immediate five -year prohibition of public positions if Le Pen is found guilty, regardless of its eventual appeal. The court may accept, change or reject this request.
A court can eliminate Le Pen’s hopes today for the presidential post
| The automatic five-year ban will be a heavy blow to the 56-year-old Le Pen, who has been running for president three times. According to her, the 2027 election will be her last attempt to take up the high post. Le Pen will retain his place by the end of his term. |
Le Pen, who did not comment on journalists on his arrival in court, accused the prosecutor’s office of aiming at her « political death », hinting at a plot to deter RN by power, an accusation reminiscent of US President Donald Trump’s allegations of his own lawsuits.
Le Pen, along with more than 20 party figures, have been charged with diverting funds from the European Parliament for paying party officials in France. The defendants claim that the funds were used as intended and that the accusations determine the role of the « parliamentary assistant » too closely.
| However, Judge Benedict de Perutui ruled: « It was established that all employees worked for the party, not for the MEPs who did not assign them any tasks. » |
« The investigation showed that these were not administrative errors … but abuses carried out within a system designed to reduce the party’s costs. »
Prosecutors said last year that Le Pen should be fined at least 300,000 euros and a prison, as well as a prohibition on public occupation for 5 years.
According to prosecutors, illegitimacy for public posts should be applied immediately and not canceled until the appeal is underway, which Le Pen will most likely take.
