US EditionFrench prosecutors seek to ban Marine Le Pen from office, jeopardizing her 2027 presidential bid
French prosecutors seek to uphold convictions and impose a five-year ban on Marine Le Pen and officials over a €1.4 million EU funds misuse scheme in a Paris retrial.
- On Tuesday, French prosecutors asked a Paris appeals court to bar Marine Le Pen and National Rally officials from office, with prosecutor Thierry Ramonatxo saying the alleged misappropriation gave the party a `concrete advantage`.
- Le Pen, 57, is appealing a March 2025 ruling that found her guilty of misusing European Parliament funds in hiring aides from 2004–2016.
- During the appeal trial that started last month, prosecutors told judges that acts were `deliberately and carefully concealed` and denounced `a system` set by party leaders, according to Stéphane Madoz-Blanchet.
- The court may announce a verdict possibly before summer, with Le Pen facing up to 10 years in prison and a €1 million fine, involving 10 other defendants. Jordan Bardella is her designated successor.
- Le Pen had been viewed as a potential front-runner for the 2027 presidential election until last year's ruling, while prosecutors argue the acts were deliberately concealed to financially advantage the National Rally party.
109 Articles
109 Articles
In France, Le Pen, a national of law, is losing the prospect of another presidential candidate. The prosecutor's office called for four years of imprisonment in the appeal process and a five-year ban on public office candidacy.
der Standard AT
der Standard DEBut if the court meets the demand, a candidacy for the presidential election next year for the right-wing Le Pen would be extremely difficult
The right-wing national Le Pen is on trial for suspected embezzlement. It is also a question of whether she is allowed to take part in the elections next year.
A politician who has already been convicted in the first instance should only serve one year of this sentence.
Pacific Daily News
French prosecutors stick to demand for five-year ban for Le Pen
French prosecutors on Tuesday demanded that an appeal court maintain a five-year ban on far-right leader Marine Le Pen from holding public office for a European parliament fraud, stepping up threats to her presidential ambitions.
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