The former leader of France’s right-wing National Rally has rejected claims that the party’s MEPs embezzled funds

Right-wing French politician Marine Le Pen appeared in a Paris court on Monday to stand trial over allegations that senior members of the party she formerly headed, the National Rally, embezzled €3 million ($3.3 million) in EU funds.

According to French authorities, the alleged scheme ran between 2004 and 2016, and involved lawmakers from the National Front (as the party was then known) in the European Parliament fictitiously employing 20 assistants who simultaneously held positions within the party.
The assistants allegedly did not conduct EU-related work and spent most of their time in France, while still receiving EU payments. The practice is illegal under EU parliament rules.

Le Pen, who was an MEP between 2004 and 2017, stands accused of listing her bodyguard and chief of staff as her assistants.

Her father and former National Front president, Jean-Marie Le Pen, is also standing trial, along with a former party treasurer, three former party vice-presidents, a former party secretary general, and a spokesperson.

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If found guilty, the defendants could face up to ten years in prison as well as fines of up to €1 million ($1.1 million) each. They could also be barred from holding public office for five years beyond that.

Launched in 2016, the investigation partially relies on emails discovered by French authorities two years prior. In the messages, Marine Le Pen and the right-wing party’s then-treasurer supposedly discussed the scheme.

Arriving at court in Paris on Monday, Le Pen insisted that “we have not violated any political and regulatory rules of the European Parliament.” She vowed to present “extremely serious and extremely solid arguments in the trial.”

Earlier, Alexandre Varaut, a National Rally MEP, accused the European Parliament of “trying to muzzle us.” He argued that “it is important that prosecutors not dictate how MEPs should organize their work.”

French authorities launched a separate probe in July into “suspicious or illegal financing” of the National Rally during the 2022 presidential election. The party allegedly exceeded spending limits stipulated under French law.

A month before, the party had a strong showing in the EU parliamentary vote. The RN also came out on top in the first round of the French general elections several weeks later, although it ended in third place in the second round of voting in early July.