Le Pen: jail and public office ban sought by prosecutor
A prosecutor in Paris has asked the court for a prison sentence of five years, along with a five-year ban on political office for far-right leader Marine Le Pen over an illegal party funding case. Nicolas Barret has asked for the ban to be effective immediately after the verdict. Even if her defence team appeals, Le Pen would be unable to stand for president in 2027.
She, along with 20 senior party figures, are accused of hiring assistants who worked on party business and not for the European Parliament which paid them. Le Pen denies the charges, telling reporters that the sentence sought by the prosecutor was an “outrage,” accusing Barret of trying to “ruin” the National Rally (RN).
“I think the prosecution’s wish is to deprive the French people of the ability to vote for whom they want,” she said following the hearing in Paris where she and 24 other defendants are on trial.
Macron defeated Le Pen at the last presidential election in 2022 by 58.55% to 41.45% but RN is the largest among the numerous parties in the National Assembly.
Besides the prison sentence and political office ban, a fine of €300,000 (£249,000; $319,000) is also being sought against the controversial politician. The proposed sentence would be “convertible” and the French AFP news agency has said that the RN leader “would not necessarily go to prison.”
The ban on political office, however, would be effective immediately and not be delayed by any appeals process that some had expected.
The prosecutor requested for the ban against all 25 defendants, telling the court “the law applies to all.” The defendants, as well as the party itself, are accused of syphoning EU parliamentary funds to pay the salaries of party employees. RN officials, it has bene argued in court, rarely set foot in the EU parliament..
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