National Rally Trial: Marine Le Pen and her party face justice
The trial of the National Rally (RN) has begun in Paris. Marine Le Pen, along with twenty-four other individuals and the party itself, are accused of using European Parliament funds illegally. This case, which has been ongoing for several years, is drawing the attention of all media outlets and French citizens.
At the heart of this case is the "parliamentary assistants" system. The justice system suspects the RN of paying party employees with European funds. According to the prosecution, these individuals were actually working for the party in France, rather than for Members of the European Parliament in Brussels or Strasbourg. The total amount of the alleged loss is estimated at several million euros.
For her part, Marine Le Pen firmly rejects these accusations. She maintains that the assistants did indeed carry out their work and that the rules were followed. For her and her lawyers, this trial is a political attempt to weaken her movement before upcoming elections. She says she is calm and ready to explain her position to the judges.
The consequences of this trial could be very significant for the political future of France. If found guilty, Marine Le Pen faces a prison sentence, a heavy fine, but above all, a sentence of ineligibility. This means she could be barred from standing for election, particularly for the 2027 presidential election.
The trial is expected to last about two months. Judges will hear numerous testimonies and examine thousands of documents to understand how the money was used. This is a historic moment for the French justice system and for the national political landscape, as the RN is currently one of the most powerful parties in the country.