The leader of France’s National Rally (NR) party Marine Le Pen was due to answer questions from judges in a Paris court on suspicion of embezzling European Parliament funds, Morning Star reported.
Although Le Pen denies any wrongdoing, the conviction at the nine-week trial could significantly affect her political career and aspirations to run in the next French presidential election in 2027.
She and her co-defendants also face 10 years in prison and fines of up to €1 million each. NR and 25 of its senior officials allegedly used money meant for aides to European parliamentarians instead of paying staff who worked for the party between 2004 and 2016.
Le Pen will be in the dock for three consecutive days to answer questions about the use of EU money to pay her bodyguard, chief of staff and two other party aides. When the trial began last month, she vowed to present “solid arguments” showing that she and other party functionaries “did not violate any political and regulatory rules of the European Parliament.”
The trial will run until 27 November.
Two other NR officials, including Le Pen’s father, Jean-Marie, faced similar charges but were exempted from prosecution for health reasons.
