French prosecutors request 5-year ban on Marine Le Pen from holding office

French prosecutors have requested a five-year ban on holding elected office for far-right leader Marine Le Pen in an appeal trial in Paris, potentially derailing her expected 2027 presidential bid. The case centers on allegations that Le Pen misused European Parliament funds when hiring parliamentary aides between 2004 and 2016.

Prosecutors also sought a one-year house arrest with electronic monitoring and a €100,000 ($118,000) fine for the 57-year-old National Rally party leader. The appeals court is expected to deliver its verdict before summer.

The case represents a pivotal moment in French politics, as Le Pen has been widely considered the frontrunner to succeed President Emmanuel Macron in 2027. A conviction upholding the ban would dramatically reshape the political landscape in France, where the National Rally has gained significant momentum in recent years.

During Tuesday’s hearing, prosecutor Thierry Ramonatxo characterized the alleged misappropriation as “a very serious breach of probity” that provided Le Pen’s party, formerly known as the National Front, with “a concrete advantage in the form of substantial savings made at the expense of the European Parliament.”

A second prosecutor, Stéphane Madoz-Blanchet, described a systematic effort led by Le Pen herself, saying the “acts of misappropriation of public funds were deliberately and carefully concealed.” He metaphorically referred to “public money siphoned off drop by drop until it formed a river.”

Le Pen has acknowledged that some individuals performed work for her party while being paid as EU parliamentary aides, calling it “a mistake.” Throughout the hearing, she listened silently, occasionally shaking her head in disagreement with prosecutors’ characterizations.

Earlier in the day, Le Pen told journalists in the courtroom: “I never expect a pleasant surprise when I set foot in a courtroom,” adding, “I’m not the one who decides. I don’t hold the cards.”

The appeal involves not only Le Pen but also 10 other defendants and the National Rally party as a legal entity. The trial is scheduled to continue until next week.

The March 2025 ruling sent shockwaves through French politics when Le Pen was found guilty in the original case. Prosecutors accused her of heading a “system” designed to “siphon off” EU public funds for the benefit of her party.

Several outcomes remain possible. Le Pen could be acquitted, allowing her political career to continue unimpeded. Alternatively, if convicted, she could face a punishment ranging from the requested five-year ban to the maximum legal penalty of 10 years in prison and a €1 million ($1.17 million) fine.

Anticipating the possibility of ineligibility, Le Pen has already designated 30-year-old Jordan Bardella, her close political ally and current party president, as her potential successor for the 2027 presidential campaign.

The case highlights ongoing tensions between European institutions and nationalist political parties, which have gained strength across the continent in recent years. For the European Parliament, the case represents an effort to enforce accountability in the use of EU funds, while for Le Pen and her supporters, it’s viewed as part of a broader establishment effort to sideline populist movements through legal means.

The outcome will have significant implications not only for Le Pen personally but also for the future of right-wing populism in France, which has seen growing electoral success despite remaining unable to secure the presidency thus far.