Far-right French leader Marine Le Pen will stand trial on charges of embezzlement of EU funds

PARIS — French far-right leader Marine Le Pen is scheduled to answer questions from Paris court judges on Monday as she and her National Rally Party go on trial on suspicion of embezzling European Parliament funds. She denied any wrongdoing.

The nine-week trial is a critical moment for Le Pen, who is expected to be a strong candidate in the next French presidential election in 2027. A conviction could significantly impact her political career and aspirations.

Last month, the National Assembly and 25 of its top officials went on trial for using money intended for EU parliament advisers instead of paying staff who worked for the party between 2004 and 2016, in violation of the 27-nation bloc’s rules. The National Union was then called the National Front.

Le Pen is scheduled to answer questions from the court for three consecutive days, starting Monday, over the use of EU money to pay her bodyguard, chief of staff and two other party advisers.

When the trial began last month, she promised to present “robust arguments” showing that she and other party officials had “not breached any political or regulatory rules of the European Parliament.”

If found guilty, Le Pen and her co-defendants face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to 1 million euros ($1.1 million) each. Additional penalties may also be imposed, such as the loss of civil rights or a ban on running for office, which could hinder or even destroy Le Pen’s goal of filing another presidential bid after the term of office of President Emmanuel Macron expires. Le Pen was Macron’s runner-up in the 2017 and 2022 presidential elections.

Two other National Rally officials, including the party’s historic leader, Le Pen’s father Jean-Marie, faced similar charges but were cleared due to their health.

The trial is scheduled to last until November 27.