French authorities request jail time and a ban from elections for Le Pen
French prosecutors are seeking a five-year prison sentence and an election ban for Marine Le Pen in connection with an embezzlement case. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The former leader of the right-wing National Rally, Marine Le Pen, has dismissed allegations of embezzlement, asserting that the case is politically motivated.
French prosecutors have requested a judge to impose a five-year prison sentence on Le Pen, alongside a prohibition from holding public office, in an embezzlement case. Le Pen and 24 other current and former members of the National Rally are accused of misusing €3 million in European Parliament funds intended for parliamentary assistants, instead financing internal party activities from 2004 to 2016, which allegedly violates EU law. All defendants maintain their innocence.
During a court session in Paris on Wednesday, prosecutors advocated for the maximum penalty for Le Pen, citing her position as an European Parliament member and leader of the National Rally during some of the alleged infractions. She led the party, previously known as the National Front, from 2011 to 2021 and remains an active member.
Prosecutors indicated that three years of Le Pen’s sentence would be suspended, while the remaining two years could be served with an electronic bracelet. Additionally, they proposed a €300,000 fine.
Prosecutors argued that the five-year disqualification from public office should take effect immediately, before any defense appeals, which could potentially exclude Le Pen from running in the 2027 presidential election. She has announced her intention to pursue the presidency for the third time during the trial that commenced in late September.
"It is clear that the only thing the public prosecutors wanted was Marine Le Pen’s exclusion from political life,” Le Pen stated to reporters following the hearings.
Jordan Bardella, the current leader of the National Rally and not a defendant, expressed his views on X, claiming that prosecutors were conducting an “assault on democracy” and striving to “persecute and take revenge on Marine Le Pen.”
The prosecutors also sought a €2 million fine against the National Rally and proposed varying bans from public office for other accused individuals, ranging from one to five years.
The defense will present its arguments to the judge until the trial concludes on November 27, with a verdict anticipated in early 2025.
In the 2022 presidential election, Le Pen faced President Emmanuel Macron, losing in the second round with 41.45% of the vote compared to Macron's 58.55%.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
French prosecutors have requested a judge to impose a five-year prison sentence on Le Pen, alongside a prohibition from holding public office, in an embezzlement case. Le Pen and 24 other current and former members of the National Rally are accused of misusing €3 million in European Parliament funds intended for parliamentary assistants, instead financing internal party activities from 2004 to 2016, which allegedly violates EU law. All defendants maintain their innocence.
During a court session in Paris on Wednesday, prosecutors advocated for the maximum penalty for Le Pen, citing her position as an European Parliament member and leader of the National Rally during some of the alleged infractions. She led the party, previously known as the National Front, from 2011 to 2021 and remains an active member.
Prosecutors indicated that three years of Le Pen’s sentence would be suspended, while the remaining two years could be served with an electronic bracelet. Additionally, they proposed a €300,000 fine.
Prosecutors argued that the five-year disqualification from public office should take effect immediately, before any defense appeals, which could potentially exclude Le Pen from running in the 2027 presidential election. She has announced her intention to pursue the presidency for the third time during the trial that commenced in late September.
"It is clear that the only thing the public prosecutors wanted was Marine Le Pen’s exclusion from political life,” Le Pen stated to reporters following the hearings.
Jordan Bardella, the current leader of the National Rally and not a defendant, expressed his views on X, claiming that prosecutors were conducting an “assault on democracy” and striving to “persecute and take revenge on Marine Le Pen.”
The prosecutors also sought a €2 million fine against the National Rally and proposed varying bans from public office for other accused individuals, ranging from one to five years.
The defense will present its arguments to the judge until the trial concludes on November 27, with a verdict anticipated in early 2025.
In the 2022 presidential election, Le Pen faced President Emmanuel Macron, losing in the second round with 41.45% of the vote compared to Macron's 58.55%.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
