Marine Le Pen convicted: suspended prison sentence and electronic monitoring
The leader of the National Rally has been found guilty of misappropriation of European funds and must now wear a monitoring device.
Marine Le Pen convicted: suspended prison sentence and electronic monitoring
A French court has upheld on appeal Marine Le Pen's guilt in the fictitious parliamentary assistant jobs case at the European Parliament. The president of the National Rally (RN) has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment, two of which are suspended. The custodial sentence of one year will be served under electronic monitoring with an ankle bracelet.
In parallel, the judges imposed a deprivation of civil rights for forty-five months. This sanction comprises thirty months suspended, leaving fifteen months to be served. This period could be completed before the 2027 presidential election, which would not entirely close the door to candidacy.
The case concerns events dating from 2004 to 2016. The prosecution contends that employees paid from the European Union budget actually carried out tasks in service of the accused's political movement. Marine Le Pen continues to contest these allegations.
The electronic monitoring obligation could seriously hinder a potential election campaign, both in practical and image terms. Nevertheless, the defendant declared on TF1 her intention to appeal to the Court of Cassation and to seek the highest office. "Tonight, I am a candidate," she stated, arguing that the appeal procedure would allow her to conduct her campaign without a monitoring device.
Polling institutes currently place the RN in a strong position to reach the second round of the 2027 presidential election. Marine Le Pen also indicated that Jordan Bardella, at the head of the party, would be appointed prime minister if she were to win.
This judicial decision comes after three presidential attempts for the defendant. Eliminated in the first round in 2012, she had reached the second round in the two subsequent elections against incumbent Emmanuel Macron.
Source: SRF
Source: SRF