Le Pen faces legal battle over parliamentary assistant scandal, calls prosecution "unjust"

Marine Le Pen, the leader of the parliamentary party National Rally, criticized the sentence being sought by prosecutors, which could prevent her from running in the 2027 presidential elections, calling it a "political death sentence."

The politician made these remarks during an interview with French TV channel, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Le Pen noted that the prosecutor's demand is "disproportionate to the nature of the accusation," and she described it as "a political death sentence with my temporary execution." If the court rules in favour of the prosecution, she would be banned from running for president, even if she appeals the decision.

"This feeling of rebellion is something I deeply experience, and millions of French people share that feeling with me. The French people are being prevented from hoping and voting for the candidate they want," Le Pen stated.

On September 30, the court began hearings in the so-called "National Rally assistants" case. The charges allege that the party created a "centralized management system" to "misappropriate" €21,000 per month, paid to European Parliament members (MEPs) as allowances for their parliamentary assistants. However, these funds were reportedly used to pay for staff working for the party, including bodyguards, graphic designers, and secretaries.

The prosecution is seeking a five-year prison sentence for Le Pen, two of which could be suspended, as well as a €300,000 fine and a ban on her holding the position of faction leader or running in the 2027 presidential elections.

The investigation, which began in December 2016, was triggered by an anonymous 2015 report from the European Parliament, claiming that the hired assistants were working exclusively for the "National Rally". Le Pen has rejected the charges of fictitious hiring during the trial.

Paris prosecutors are pressing for a five-year prison sentence for Marine Le Pen, the leader of the "National Rally" parliamentary faction. According to French media, the prosecution is demanding five years in prison, with two years potentially suspended, along with a €300,000 fine and a ban from holding the position of faction leader or running in the 2027 presidential election.

Since September 30, the court has been reviewing the so-called "National Rally assistants" case. According to the charges, the party allegedly created a "centralized management system" to funnel €21,000 per month, paid to MEPs as allowances for their assistants. These funds, however, were allegedly used to pay staff working for the party, such as bodyguards, graphic designers, and secretaries.

Earlier this year, France held snap parliamentary elections after Le Pen’s party outperformed President Emmanuel Macron's coalition in the European Parliament elections. The outcome saw the "New People's Front" (NFP) winning 182 seats, with Macron's "Together" coalition securing 168 seats, and Le Pen's "National Rally" taking third place with 143 seats in the National Assembly.

By Tamilla Hasanova