Marine Le Pen hits back in EU funds misuse trial

French politician Marine Le Pen has strongly rebutted allegations of illegal party funding during her trial concerning the misuse of European Parliament resources. Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally (RN) party, faces charges along with over 20 senior party members for allegedly employing assistants who were primarily engaged in party activities rather than fulfilling their roles for the European Parliament, which funded their salaries.

In a Paris court on Monday, Le Pen argued that parliamentary assistants inevitably participate in political work, as that is the essence of their roles. She insisted that it was misleading to assert they should focus solely on parliamentary duties. “Assistants work for their deputies, enhancing their ideas,” she stated, emphasizing the common career trajectory from parliamentary assistant to deputy. “I have absolutely no feeling that I have committed the slightest irregularity, the slightest offense.”

The prosecution claims that Le Pen oversaw a system over several years wherein RN staff members based in Paris were falsely designated as EU parliamentary assistants in Brussels. This practice allegedly allowed them to siphon off EU funds to cover the salaries of party workers. According to court arguments, these RN officials, which included Le Pen’s bodyguard and a graphic designer, seldom participated in parliamentary activities and spent little time within the EU institution.

One of the key figures in the trial is Catherine Griset, Le Pen’s longtime personal assistant. Evidence presented in court revealed that she was recorded as being present in the European Parliament for only 12 hours between August 2014 and October 2015, raising questions about the legitimacy of her role as a parliamentary aide.

Le Pen defended the notion that it was naive to think that parliamentary assistants could entirely disengage from political duties. She criticized the European Parliament, likening it to “The Blob,” a reference to the 1958 film about a massive amoeba threatening the world. “It swallows up deputies. In the parliament, you can sleep, you can eat, you can get your hair done. Everything is designed to keep you living in the box. Sometimes you have to say, ‘Cuckoo! We’re supposed to be doing politics here!’”

A lawyer by training, Le Pen has committed to attending as much of the trial as possible, which is expected to continue until late November. The timing of the trial is particularly significant, given the current political climate in France. Le Pen’s party now wields considerable influence, posing a challenge to Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government, which commands support from just over a third of National Assembly deputies. This precarious position means that Le Pen could potentially destabilize the government by supporting a censure motion proposed by the left.

“We know we have the power to press the button. You know it. They know it. Everybody knows it,” she stated in a recent interview with Le Point magazine. “The government’s sell-by date is written on the box.”

However, the outcome of this trial could severely impact Le Pen’s political aspirations. If found guilty, she could face penalties including imprisonment, substantial fines, and disqualification from public office for five years. Such a verdict would effectively bar her from contesting the presidency in 2027, which would mark her fourth run for the position.

Although appeals could potentially delay any sentencing until after the 2027 election, if she were to win the presidency, Le Pen would gain immunity from judicial actions while in office. Some analysts argue that a guilty verdict might not significantly damage her political image, allowing her to position herself as a victim of an overreaching establishment. Conversely, others believe that campaigning under the shadow of a conviction could alienate moderate voters who might otherwise consider supporting her.

As the trial unfolds, the implications for Le Pen’s future in French politics remain uncertain. The proceedings not only spotlight the challenges she faces but also illustrate the broader issues of accountability and governance within the European political landscape. With her party’s influence growing, the outcome of this trial could either solidify her standing or undermine her ambitions in the turbulent world of French politics.