PARIS — French judicial authorities have initiated proceedings to disqualify far-right leader Marine Le Pen and key members of her National Rally party from holding public office, potentially derailing her anticipated 2027 presidential campaign. The move comes during a critical appeals trial examining allegations of systematic misuse of European Parliament funds spanning over a decade.
Prosecutors Thierry Ramonatxo and Stéphane Madoz-Blanchet presented their case before Paris’s appeals court, characterizing the financial arrangements as “a very serious breach of probity” that provided the party with “substantial savings made at the expense of the European Parliament.” Madoz-Blanchet further detailed what he described as “a system” established by party leadership, alleging that “acts of misappropriation were deliberately and carefully concealed.”
Le Pen, 57, acknowledged during proceedings that some individuals performed work for her party—formerly known as the National Front—while receiving compensation as EU parliamentary aides, terming the arrangement “a mistake.” The appeal seeks to overturn a March 2025 conviction that found her guilty of financial misconduct between 2004 and 2016.
The trial involves Le Pen, ten additional defendants, and the National Rally as a legal entity, with proceedings expected to continue through next week. A verdict is anticipated before summer, with potential outcomes ranging from acquittal to a conviction carrying penalties of up to ten years imprisonment and a €1 million fine.
Speaking outside the courtroom, Le Pen expressed skepticism about judicial outcomes, stating: “I never expect a pleasant surprise when I set foot in a courtroom. I’m not the one who decides—I don’t hold the cards.”
Prior to the initial ruling, Le Pen was considered the front-runner to succeed President Emmanuel Macron. Should she be rendered ineligible, she has designated 30-year-old protégé Jordan Bardella as her political successor.