Longtime head of the far-right National Rally in France and potential presidential candidate Marine Le Pen will go on trial in Paris on Monday on charges of embezzling money from the European Parliament.
The same accusations are being made against more than twenty other prominent party members. They are charged with employing party-affiliated assistants instead of those who were paid by the European Parliament.
Le Pen’s chances of winning the presidency could be severely hampered if she is found guilty. She might also be subject to fines and imprisonment, as well as a possible 10-year ban from running for office.
Party spokesman Laurent Jacobelli stated, “We are going to prove that there is no system to embezzle money from the EU,” in response to her denial of any wrongdoing.
“We are going to prove that it is possible to be an assistant to a European parliamentarian and get involved in the life of the RN (National Rally),” the spokesman told French media on Monday.
Le Pen’s father Jean-Marie Le Pen, 96, who founded the National Front, which became the RN, also faces charges, but will not attend the trial because of poor health.
