Paris appellate court upholds Marine Le Pen conviction for misappropriation of European funds
The Paris appellate court upheld on Tuesday Marine Le Pen's conviction for misappropriation of European Union funds whilst reducing her ineligibility sentence, which allows her to stand for the 2027 presidential election.
Paris appellate court upholds Marine Le Pen conviction for misappropriation of European funds
The Paris appellate court upheld on Tuesday the conviction of the leader of the National Rally for misappropriation of European Union funds, whilst reducing her ineligibility sentence, which now allows her to consider running for the 2027 presidential election.
The judges imposed on Marine Le Pen a sentence of three years' imprisonment, of which one year under electronic home surveillance, as well as a fine of 100,000 euros. The court also imposed a ban from holding public office for 45 months, of which 30 were suspended. Given that the initial ineligibility sentence was effective during the appeal, the political figure has already served the remaining 15 months of this penalty.
Investigations against the former presidential candidate began in 2016, and trial proceedings were requested in 2023. The initial conviction, based on article 432-15 of the French criminal code, provided for two years of supervised residence, a fine of 100,000 euros and five years' ineligibility. Tuesday's ruling therefore eased this latter measure, opening the way to a possible campaign for the 2027 election.
Marine Le Pen retains the possibility of filing an appeal for cassation within ten days, and she has indicated her intention to do so. She also announced on Tuesday her willingness to stand for the presidential election, specifying that she would conduct her campaign without wearing an electronic surveillance bracelet.
Although a candidacy is technically authorised during examination of her appeal by the Court of Cassation, the far-right leader had herself previously stated that she would refuse to stand for elections if she had to wear an electronic bracelet. Current polling places Marine Le Pen and her party, the National Rally, at the top of voting intentions for 2027. Should she be unable to run, Jordan Bardella is tipped to replace her.
The conviction originates from the use of approximately 2.8 million euros of European Parliament funds to pay members of her political party. Twenty-seven other individuals were also convicted, and eleven co-defendants of Marine Le Pen who appealed had their convictions upheld.
The precise terms of the supervised residence, which could allow certain movements, will be determined later by another magistrate.
Source: Jurist.org
Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)