Marine Le Pen Faces Election Ban and Imprisonment as Legal Battle Continues

French state prosecutors are urging appeal court judges to uphold a five-year election ban against far-right leader Marine Le Pen, stemming from embezzlement of European Parliament funds in a scandal involving fake jobs. If the judges grant this request, Le Pen may be ineligible to run in France's 2027 presidential election. Additionally, prosecutors have recommended a four-year prison sentence for Le Pen, three years of which would be suspended while the remaining year would be served at home with an electronic bracelet. A fine of €100,000 is also sought. Stéphane Madoz-Blanchet, one of the prosecutors, underscored the gravity of the charges, stating that "any other sanction would be inadequate." The appeal judges are expected to deliberate for months before reaching a verdict, with a decision anticipated before summer. Le Pen, 57, who leads the anti-immigration National Rally (RN), had been a favored candidate for the 2027 presidential election until last March when she was banned from running for five years due to her involvement in an extensive fake jobs scheme at the European Parliament. She is appealing last year’s verdict, seeking to overturn both the conviction and the associated sentence in order to position herself for the upcoming presidential race. During the proceedings, Le Pen argued there was no systematic misuse of European Parliament funds by her party. However, state prosecutors contended that she was at the center of a well-coordinated and almost industrial scheme to embezzle funds allocated for assistants in Strasbourg and Brussels, which lasted from 2004 to 2016, resulting in an estimated loss of €4.8 million (approximately $5 million). Prosecutors highlighted that the funds were misappropriated to pay workers connected to the party in France, who had no ties to any duties performed in the European Parliament. In defending their stance, state prosecutors detailed the extent of the fraudulent activities, which were substantiated by documented email exchanges and party records. One prosecutor, Thierry Ramonatxo, criticized Le Pen for her public declarations against judges made after last year's verdict, claiming such attacks undermine the integrity of the legal system. He denounced her rhetoric, describing it as a dangerous attempt to delegitimize judicial actions and warned of the threats judges have faced as a result of such discourse. Le Pen’s demeanor in court was notably calmer compared to her fiery media engagements last year; she appeared to take notes and shake her head as prosecutors outlined their arguments against her and several other party members also appealing their convictions. Notably, 13 individuals who were convicted last year did not file appeals. Outside the court, prior to the prosecutors' summation, Le Pen told journalists, "I'm a believer so I believe in miracles." With her political future uncertain, she is grooming her protégé and current party president Jordan Bardella to potentially replace her as a candidate, stating last month that he has the capability to win in her stead. Regardless of her legal challenges, Le Pen expressed confidence that her party's influence and principles would endure. As the case unfolds, all eyes remain on the appeal judges, as their verdict may reshape the political landscape in France, especially leading up to the anticipated 2027 presidential election. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2