The same accusations are being made against more than twenty more prominent party members. They are charged with employing party-affiliated aides instead of those who were paid by the European Parliament.
Le Pen’s chances of winning the presidency could be severely hampered if she is found guilty. She might also be subject to fines and imprisonment, as well as a possible 10-year ban from running for government.
Party spokesman Laurent Jacobelli stated, “We are going to prove that there is no system to embezzle money from the EU,” in response to her denial of any wrongdoing.
The spokesperson told French reporters on Monday, “We are going to demonstrate that it is feasible to assist a European parliamentarian and become involved in the National Rally’s (RN) activities.”
Due to his deteriorating health, Le Pen’s father, 96-year-old Jean-Marie Le Pen, who started the National Front, which later became the RN, will not be present at the trial.
The purportedly fraudulent employment scheme was initially discovered in 2015 and included contracts for legislative assistants from 2004 to 2016.
As a longstanding party leader and former EU politician, Le Pen is on trial. One of the individuals employed as a legislative assistant, according to the prosecution, was actually serving as Le Pen and her father’s security.
