It is a decision eagerly awaited for the political future of Marine Le Pen. The Paris Correctional Court is due to hand down its decision on Monday, March 31, in the case of the far-right Front National party's (the former name of Le Pen's party, the Rassemblement National) allegedly fake European parliamentary assistant jobs.

Charged with "embezzlement of public funds" and "complicity in the embezzlement of public funds," the leader of the Rassemblement National (RN) faces a five-year prison sentence, three of which would be suspended, and a fine of €300,000, according to the prosecutor's office. She also faces a five-year ban on seeking public office with provisional execution, which could prevent her from running for president in 2027. "It's my political death that's being demanded," she said, in November 2024.

The prosecution has accused the three-time presidential candidate of having hired four fictitious assistants when she was an MEP (2004-2017). In reality, the allegedly worked for the Front National (FN). The assistants, who were paid by the European Parliament, allegedly carried out tasks linked to the management of the party rather than work related to European parliamentary activity, as is normally required of such positions.

You have 73.84% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.