Le Pen Indicted for Past Misuse of European Parliament Funds
Prosecutors Demand 5 Years Imprisonment and 300,000 Euro Fine
The presidential bid of Marine Le Pen, the de facto leader of France's far-right National Rally (RN), has hit a red light. This comes as she faces trial on charges of misappropriating European Union (EU) funds, with prosecutors seeking a prison sentence that could lead to her disqualification from running for office.
According to the Associated Press and other sources on the 13th (local time), French prosecutors requested a five-year prison sentence (with three years suspended) and a fine of 300,000 euros (approximately 450 million KRW) for Le Pen during the trial held that day. They also asked for her to be barred from running for office for the next five years. However, Le Monde explained that at least two years of the five-year sentence would be a "convertible" detention, meaning partial release is possible.
Le Pen was previously indicted last year along with party officials on charges of misusing funds allocated for European Parliament activities between 2004 and 2016, including salaries for party staff. The European Parliament estimates the damage at 3 million euros (approximately 4.46 billion KRW). The National Rally has repaid 1 million euros (approximately 1.49 billion KRW) of this amount but denies the charges.
Prosecutor Nicolas Barret stated in court, "The law applies to everyone," and demanded that Le Pen be immediately disqualified from running for office upon the verdict, even if she appeals. He also requested a five-year disqualification for 24 other defendants affiliated with the National Rally. Le Pen's trial is set to conclude on the 27th, with the verdict to be delivered later.
The National Rally expanded its influence by increasing its seats in the early general election following a landslide victory in the European Parliament elections in June. Le Pen, as a far-right politician, gained recognition by reaching the presidential runoff twice consecutively in 2017 and last year. She had planned to run for the presidency again in 2027, but the prosecutors' recent sentencing request has cast a red light on her prospects.
However, if Le Pen is acquitted, it is expected to boost her 2027 presidential bid by freeing her from charges that have plagued her for the past decade. Le Pen criticized the prosecutors, accusing them of being solely focused on blocking her presidential run and trying to strip French citizens of their voting rights. Jordan Bardella, leader of the National Rally, also claimed that the prosecutors are seeking revenge against Le Pen.
Meanwhile, in September, French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Michel Barnier, a former minister from the right-wing Republicans, as Prime Minister, creating the fourth cohabitation government in the history of the French Fifth Republic. Barnier was chosen among several candidates considered by Macron as the least likely to face a vote of no confidence in parliament and to run in the 2027 presidential election. In the early general elections held on June 30 and July 7 (runoff), Macron's Renaissance coalition secured 168 out of 577 seats in the National Assembly. This placed them second behind the left-wing New People's Ecological and Social Union (NUPES), which won 182 seats, leaving Macron's coalition unable to govern alone.
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