The trial of Marine Le Pen, 24 other individuals, and the National Rally party, suspected of misappropriating funds from the European Parliament to pay party employees, is set to begin in front of the Paris Criminal Court on Monday. Nine former MEPs of the National Front (now renamed National Rally), including Marine Le Pen, Louis Aliot, Bruno Gollnisch, and Julien Odoul, will be appearing in court. Additionally, 12 individuals who served as their parliamentary assistants and four party collaborators will also be facing trial in this case, which is scheduled for three half-days per week until November 27th.
Marine Le Pen has stated that she intends to appear before the judges as much as possible during the trial, although on Tuesday, she may prioritize attending the general policy statement of the new Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, at the National Assembly. A member of the National Rally party, Sébastien Chenu, has assured that Le Pen will be actively involved in the trial and will present new elements to the court. The far-right party leader has been accused of misusing parliamentary funds by employing individuals who purportedly worked for the party rather than carrying out official parliamentary duties.
The case originated in 2015 with a report from the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, and concerns numerous contracts for parliamentary assistants over a period of more than a decade (2004-2016). The prosecution alleges that these “assistants” were unable to describe their tasks and were merely given the title for appearance’s sake. Some assistants allegedly never met their official employer or set foot in the Parliament and were believed to be working exclusively for the party, which is not permitted under European regulations. The defendants have denied the charges, claiming that there was a sharing of work among parliamentary assistants. The National Rally party has long decried the case as persecution and a politically motivated process.
The trial is expected to shine a light on the alleged misuse of European public funds by the National Rally party and its members. The proceedings will address the accusations of employing individuals as parliamentary assistants who were actually working for the party, in violation of EU regulations. The defendants, including Marine Le Pen, will have the opportunity to present their defense during the trial, which is scheduled for several weeks. The outcome of this case could have significant repercussions for Le Pen and the National Rally party, depending on the court’s ruling and any subsequent consequences.
As the trial unfolds, it will be closely watched by the public and political observers to see how the legal process plays out and whether the defendants are found guilty of the charges brought against them. The case has garnered significant attention due to the involvement of high-profile individuals such as Marine Le Pen and the potential implications for the National Rally party. The trial is expected to be a focal point in French politics in the coming weeks, with the outcome likely to have repercussions beyond the courtroom for those involved. Ultimately, the verdict will determine the accountability of the accused in relation to the alleged misappropriation of European public funds.
