Le Pen Faces Trial Concerning EU Funds
The former head of France's right-wing National Rally refutes allegations that the party's MEPs misappropriated funds from the European bloc. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The former leader of France’s right-wing National Rally has dismissed allegations that the party’s MEPs embezzled funds.
Right-wing French politician Marine Le Pen appeared in a Paris court on Monday to face accusations regarding the embezzlement of €3 million in EU funds by senior members of the National Rally, which she previously led.
According to French authorities, the alleged fraudulent scheme operated from 2004 to 2016 and involved National Front lawmakers in the European Parliament fictitiously employing 20 assistants who were also party members. These assistants reportedly did not perform any work related to the EU and instead spent most of their time in France while still receiving payments from the EU. Such practices are prohibited under EU parliamentary regulations.
Le Pen, who served as an MEP from 2004 to 2017, is accused of having her bodyguard and chief of staff listed as her assistants.
Her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, the former president of the National Front, is also on trial, alongside a former party treasurer, three former vice-presidents, a former secretary general, and a spokesperson.
If convicted, the defendants could face sentences of up to ten years in prison and fines reaching €1 million each. Furthermore, they could be barred from holding public office for an additional five years.
The investigation, which began in 2016, partly stems from emails discovered by French authorities two years earlier, in which Marine Le Pen and the party’s then-treasurer allegedly discussed the scheme.
Upon arriving at court in Paris, Le Pen stated, “we have not violated any political and regulatory rules of the European Parliament.” She promised to present “extremely serious and extremely solid arguments in the trial.”
Earlier, Alexandre Varaut, a National Rally MEP, claimed that the European Parliament is “trying to muzzle us.” He asserted that “it is important that prosecutors not dictate how MEPs should organize their work.”
Additionally, French authorities launched a separate investigation in July into “suspicious or illegal financing” concerning the National Rally during the 2022 presidential election. The party is alleged to have exceeded the spending limits set by French law.
Notably, the party had a strong performance in the EU parliamentary elections just a month prior, and it topped the first round of the French general elections a few weeks later, although it ultimately finished third in the second round of voting in early July.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
Right-wing French politician Marine Le Pen appeared in a Paris court on Monday to face accusations regarding the embezzlement of €3 million in EU funds by senior members of the National Rally, which she previously led.
According to French authorities, the alleged fraudulent scheme operated from 2004 to 2016 and involved National Front lawmakers in the European Parliament fictitiously employing 20 assistants who were also party members. These assistants reportedly did not perform any work related to the EU and instead spent most of their time in France while still receiving payments from the EU. Such practices are prohibited under EU parliamentary regulations.
Le Pen, who served as an MEP from 2004 to 2017, is accused of having her bodyguard and chief of staff listed as her assistants.
Her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, the former president of the National Front, is also on trial, alongside a former party treasurer, three former vice-presidents, a former secretary general, and a spokesperson.
If convicted, the defendants could face sentences of up to ten years in prison and fines reaching €1 million each. Furthermore, they could be barred from holding public office for an additional five years.
The investigation, which began in 2016, partly stems from emails discovered by French authorities two years earlier, in which Marine Le Pen and the party’s then-treasurer allegedly discussed the scheme.
Upon arriving at court in Paris, Le Pen stated, “we have not violated any political and regulatory rules of the European Parliament.” She promised to present “extremely serious and extremely solid arguments in the trial.”
Earlier, Alexandre Varaut, a National Rally MEP, claimed that the European Parliament is “trying to muzzle us.” He asserted that “it is important that prosecutors not dictate how MEPs should organize their work.”
Additionally, French authorities launched a separate investigation in July into “suspicious or illegal financing” concerning the National Rally during the 2022 presidential election. The party is alleged to have exceeded the spending limits set by French law.
Notably, the party had a strong performance in the EU parliamentary elections just a month prior, and it topped the first round of the French general elections a few weeks later, although it ultimately finished third in the second round of voting in early July.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
