Marine Le Pen has concentrated all her energy in recent weeks on combating what she claims are unjust accusations that her party National Rally misappropriated funds from the European Parliament. Since the beginning of the long and complex trial, Le Pen has been an energetic presence, sitting in the front row for long days into the night and expressing her irritation at accusations she describes as erroneous. A trained lawyer, she follows the proceedings with extreme attention, sometimes puffing her cheeks, expressing her disagreement with vigorous nods of her head and walking over to her lawyers to consult them, while her heels echo loudly on the court's wooden floors.
"It says nothing about the work, nothing about the required work, from the secretary to the speechwriter, from the lawyer to the graphic designer, from the bodyguard to the employee in the MEP's office." Le Pen's co-accused, the majority of whom owe their political or professional career to her, testified under her watchful eye. Some of the witnesses provided awkward and confusing explanations, facing a lack of evidence that their work was related to the EU parliament. Often, one could hear her providing clarifications or corrections even when it was not her turn to address the court.
In statements to reporters outside the court, Le Pen seemed to be laying the groundwork for a possible conviction with comments about a guilty verdict that she described as predictable, although she said there was no reason to resign or lower her political ambitions. "I feel we did not manage to convince them," Le Pen told the three-judge panel last week, as she detailed her arguments in a 90-minute speech peppered with political comments. She has denied the accusations that she was at the helm of "a system" intended to divert money from the EU parliament for the benefit of her party, which she led from 2011 to 2021.
Upon arriving at the court, Le Pen appeared resigned to hearing the expected request from prosecutors for a guilty verdict. The leading figure of the far-right in France now faces a crucial moment in a highly publicized trial where her ability to run for the presidency in 2027 is at stake. Le Pen anticipates a guilty verdict, as prosecutors conclude their case on Wednesday and present their proposed sentence.
Patrick Maisonneuve, lawyer for the European Parliament, stated that the suspected embezzlement is estimated at 4.5 million euros. Maisonneuve also mentioned that some of the accused seemed to have been instructed "to give the same collective answers, like good soldiers, for the party and to save the boss."
Prosecutor Louise Neyton said that the judicial investigation has demonstrated that the alleged fraudulent acts "are unprecedented in their scope, duration, and are organized, automated, and systematic in nature." The trial proceedings are expected to end on November 27, with a verdict at a later date. If convicted, Le Pen and her co-defendants could face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to 1 million euros ($1.1 million) each. The National Rally was called the National Front at that time.
Marine Le Pen is a controversial and recognized figure in French politics, and her political future could largely depend on the outcome of this highly publicized trial.
