France’s Le Pen and far-right party on trial for alleged EU funds abuse

The long-running case threatens to scupper any bid by Le Pen for the presidency in 2027.

Far-right French leader Marine Le Pen – a presidential candidate in the last three elections – and members of her National Rally (RN) party face trial on allegations that they misused European Union funds.

The nine-week trial, due to open on Monday morning, will be closely watched by Le Pen’s political rivals as a conviction could scupper her chances of making another bid for the presidency in 2027.

The allegations are directed against 26 defendants from RN, including the leader’s father and party founder Jean-Marie Le Pen.

Party officials and employees, former lawmakers and parliamentary assistants are accused of using money allocated to cover the costs of European Parliament roles to pay staff who were working for RN.

Prosecutors claim that RN said the funds were used to pay “parliamentary assistants” of members of the European Parliament (MEPs) between 2004 and 2016, but that, in reality, the employees were working exclusively in other roles for the party.