Marine Le Pen warns of democratic crisis if barred from 2027 race
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Le Pen and her aides allegedly spent millions of euros intended for EU parliamentary assistants on salaries for their own party employees in France.
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French far-right leader Marine Le Pen arrives at the courtroom for the trial over the suspected embezzlement of European Parliament funds, Wednesday, November 6, 2024 in Paris. (AP)
The chair of the right-wing National Rally party's bloc in the French Parliament, Marine Le Pen, believes that society will not be able to trust the future president of France if she is banned from taking part in the presidential election in 2027, she said on Sunday.
Le Pen and some other National Rally members have been accused of embezzling European Union funds.
She and her aides allegedly spent millions of euros intended for EU parliamentary assistants on salaries for their own party employees in France.
Le Pen Verdict
The trial, which began in September 2024, involves 27 defendants accused of embezzling EU funds between 2004 and 2016. Prosecutors allege that approximately €6.8 million was misappropriated during this period.
The court's verdict is expected in early 2025, a decision that could have profound implications for France's political landscape and the National Rally's future.
If found guilty, Le Pen will be banned from running for president in 2027. The Prosecutor's Office also seeks to sentence Le Pen to five years in prison. She also may face a fine of 300,000 euros ($316,000).
"This means unacceptable political interference in the democratic process ... Some people think that it will be easier to avoid me, rather than fight with me ... What trust would the president-elect have, if I were not able to run for president?" Le Pen said in an interview with Journal du Dimanche.
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Le Pen also said that the decision of the French Prosecutor's Office weakens the voice of France in the world, as the office did not act independently, and thus the position of France is not trusted while the country seeks to teach other countries "lessons" on democracy.
On Thursday, the National Rally party launched a petition to support Marine Le Pen, urging people to "prevent the democratic and electoral process from being bypassed" and "defend the voice" of millions of people.
The petition has been supported by more than 200,000 people, the party said on X.
