The Paris prosecutor’s office recently requested a trial for Marine Le Pen, the National Rally and 27 people linked to the party. They are suspected of having participated in a system of embezzlement of European public funds between 2004 and 2016. This case concerns in particular the recruitment and remuneration of parliamentary assistants who in reality worked for the political party.
The prosecution is requesting a trial for 11 people elected MEPs on the National Front lists, as well as for 12 parliamentary assistants and four party collaborators. Among those cited are prominent political figures, such as Marine Le Pen, Louis Aliot, Bruno Gollnisch, Nicolas Bay and Julien Odoul.
The National Rally, as a legal entity, is also targeted by prosecution for complicity and concealment of embezzlement of public funds. The penalties incurred in this case are ten years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to one million euros, or even double the embezzled amount. In addition, an additional penalty of deprivation of the right to stand for election may be imposed, for a maximum period of five years.
The investigation into the matter began in 2015, when the European Parliament reported irregularities in the payment of salaries to National Front parliamentary assistants. The financial investigating judges then took up the case in 2016. They suspect the party of having set up a “system of embezzlement” of funds allocated by the European Union, by paying parliamentary assistants who in reality worked for the party itself.
The European Parliament is also a civil party in this case, estimating its damage at 6.8 million euros for the period from 2009 to 2017.
Marine Le Pen has always denied any offense in this matter and contested the accusations made against her and her party. Case to be continued as the trial seems to be looming on the horizon for the former presidential election candidate and the National Rally.