Le Pen rejects these charges at the beginning of the trial

French right-wing populist leader Marine Le Pen rejected all charges at the beginning of her trial on charges of embezzling European Union funds. She said yesterday in Paris that she “did not violate any regulations.” She stressed: “I am dealing with this process very calmly.” She wants to defend “parliamentary freedom” in court.

The leader of the National Rally group confirmed shortly before the start of the trial: “We did not violate any political rules or the rules of the European Parliament in any way.”

The proceedings relate to the alleged fictitious recruitment of assistants to the European Parliament. If convicted, Le Pen faces up to ten years in prison and being banned from running in elections.

The trial also threatens her scheduled candidacy in the 2027 French presidential election. In addition to Le Pen, her party and 24 other people close to the party are also accused.

Jean-Marie Le Pen was declared incompetent to stand trial

Trained lawyer Le Pen wants to largely attend the court hearing in person. Her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, aged 96, was declared incompetent to stand trial. The French investigative magazine Media Part published a video today in which he appears two days ago at a concert with a neo-Nazi rock band.

The European Union Parliament, acting as co-plaintiff in the proceedings, estimates damages at around three million euros. The party has already paid one million euros of this amount.