Le Pen and 24 other codefendants were accused of illicitly siphoning European Parliament funds to pay for party employees who seldom or never dealt with affairs in Brussels or Strasbourg. The court estimated that the accused had over 12 years embezzled more than €4 million, €474,000 of which Le Pen was held personally responsible for as an MEP.
All but one of them, an accountant, were found guilty and handed a mix of fines, ineligibility bans and suspended prison sentences. The National Rally party was also found guilty and handed a €2 million fine, though that can be reduced by €1 million if it does not repeat the crime.
The harshest punishment was reserved for Le Pen, as she was convicted of criminal activity both as a former MEP and then running it as party’s ex-president.
Prosecutors took the extraordinary step of asking the three-judge panel presiding over the case to immediately enact Le Pen’s ban on running for office rather than wait until the appeals process has concluded, which is usually the norm in France.
The judges agreed, citing the gravity of Le Pen’s crime. They also fined her €100,000 and sentenced to four years in prison, two of which were suspended — but those penalties could be delayed by a possible appeal.
“Today, it’s not just Marine Le Pen who is unfairly condemned: It’s French democracy that is being executed,” said Bardella.
