Marine Le Pen Faces Embezzlement Charges After Allegedly Stealing Money from the European Union

Le Pen is the leader of France’s far-right National Rally Party and a three-time presidential candidate  (Wikimedia Commons)

Marine Le Pen appeared in a Paris court on Monday, October 14. She and 24 other members of the National Rally party are accused of embezzling funds from the European Union. According to CNN, Le Pen denies any wrongdoing in a trial that has the potential to dramatically alter her political prospects. 

BBC reports that the embezzlement accusations come after Le Pen and other party members supposedly hired assistants who worked on “party affairs rather than for the European Parliament.” According to the charges, however, the National Rally party, formerly known as the National Front, is accused of having illegally paid these employees using funds from the European Union. According to France 24, initial investigations into these instances began almost a decade ago, which show the estimated damage of the alleged offenses to be around 3.5 million euros in total. 

As per the Associated Press, Le Pen took the stand on October 14 looking “self-confident and determined,” and claiming that she had not committed “the slightest illegal move.” In defending her stance, she explains that members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have a variety of roles extending beyond just voting in the European Union, including speaking to voters, supporting their views and the views of the party at the national level, and speaking to the media at large events. “The aide works for his MEP and can work for his MEP for the benefit of the party,” she said on the stand. 

Le Pen and her fellow party members may face up to ten years in prison and fines of around one million euros, as reported by the Associated Press. She could also be deemed ineligible to run for office, a penalty that would threaten her political career and reputation. Le Pen is a three-time presidential candidate and was the runner-up to President Emmanuel Macron in both the 2017 and 2022 French elections. She is planning to run again in 2027, which BBC concludes may be her “most promising attempt” and an opportunity for her to capitalize on the relative success of the National Rally in recent elections. 

Le Pen also finds herself and the National Party in a uniquely powerful position after the announcement of Michel Barnier’s new government. Barnier only has the support of a little more than a third of the National Assembly, meaning that the National Rally Party could bring his government down if they choose to do so. At the moment, the National Assembly is hearing debates regarding France’s budget, hoping to alleviate the country’s crippling debt. However, the Associated Press says that the trial may prevent Le Pen and her fellow National Rally party lawmakers from being fully engaged in the debates, drawing their attention to the more pressing issue of party defense on the national stage. 

The trial is scheduled to last until November 27, spanning nine weeks in total. Even if they are cleared, Marine Le Pen and the National Rally party will face the daunting task of regaining the trust of the French public.