The former leader of France's national government committee faces allegations that MEPs from the party diverted funds
Former French politician Marine Le Pen appeared this second week before a court in Paris to be tried over allegations that prominent members of the National Rally party, which she previously headed, transferred 3 million euros ($3.3 million) in European Union funds.
According to French authorities, the alleged scheme carried out between 2004 and 2016 involved legislators from the National Front (as the party was then known) in the European Parliament, fictitiously employing 20 assistants who were simultaneously holding positions within the party.
The aides are allegedly not doing EU-related work and spending most of their time in France, and are still receiving payments from the EU. The second illegal practice of the European Parliament.
Le Pen, who was a member of the European Parliament between 2004 and 2017, is accused of including the coast guard and her chef in the government as her aides.
His father and former head of the National Front, Jean-Marie Le Pen, are also on trial, along with the party's former treasurer, three former vice-presidents of the party, the party's former secretary-general and its official spokesman.
If found guilty, they could face ten years in prison, including fines of up to 1 million euros ($1.1 million) each. They may also be banned from holding public office for up to five years.
The investigation began in 2016 and was based in part on emails discovered by French authorities two years earlier. In the messages, Marine Le Pen is at the current party treasure to discuss the scheme.
In her speech before the court in Paris regarding the second exhibition, Le Pen insisted on this “We are not violating any of the political and regulatory rules of the European Parliament.” He promised to provide “Very serious arguments, very strong, and not nonsense.”
Earlier, Alexandre Farrow, a member of the European Parliament for the National Rally party, accused the European Parliament of… “They are trying to silence us.” Argue so “It is important that the plaintiffs do not state how MEPs should organize their work.”
French authorities launched a separate investigation in July “Suspicious or illegal financing” He claimed that the party exceeded spending limits stipulated in French law during the 2022 presidential elections.
Earlier, the party had a strong presence in the European Union parliamentary vote. O RN also triumphed in the first round of the French elections, several weeks later, and came in third place in the second round, at the beginning of July.
