French prosecutors have told a Paris court they will ask judges to largely uphold convictions and seek ineligibility sentences in Marine Le Pen's appeal over an alleged European Parliament "fake-jobs" scheme. A lower court last year sentenced Le Pen to four years (two suspended), a five-year ban from office and a €100,000 fine. The retrial of Le Pen, her National Rally party and others concludes this month, with a verdict expected in the summer. If the conviction is confirmed, Le Pen could be barred from the 2027 presidential race and face up to 10 years in prison and a €1,000,000 fine.
Prosecutors Seek Office Bans and Uphold Convictions in Marine Le Pen Appeal Over Alleged EU 'Fake Jobs' Scheme
The case has thrown Marine Le Pen's 2027 presidential bid into jeopardy (Thomas SAMSON)(Thomas SAMSON/AFP/AFP)
French prosecutors told a Paris court on Tuesday they will ask judges to largely uphold the convictions from the initial trial and to impose ineligibility sentences against some defendants in the appeal of far-right leader Marine Le Pen and members of her National Rally (RN) party.
"We are going to ask you to largely uphold the criminal liability established in the initial trial, and ineligibility sentences will of course be sought," a prosecutor told the court.
The retrial covers Le Pen, the RN and 11 other defendants in a case over an alleged fake-jobs scheme that prosecutors say used European Parliament funds to pay party staff in France. The scheme was described at the first trial as a coordinated "system" running from 2004 to 2016 involving around 24 former MEPs, assistants and accountants, as well as the party itself.
A lower court last year convicted Le Pen and sentenced her to four years in prison, two of them suspended, a five-year ban from holding public office and a €100,000 fine. Not all those convicted at first instance have appealed.
Le Pen, a three-time presidential candidate, has denied the allegations throughout the appeal. She rejects the claim that RN operated a deliberate scheme to embezzle European Parliament funds and says the party acted in "complete good faith." The retrial began in mid-January and is due to finish this month, with a verdict expected in the summer.
If the appellate court upholds the earlier ruling, Le Pen would be barred from standing in the 2027 presidential election and could face the maximum penalties available on conviction: up to 10 years in prison and a €1,000,000 fine. Her legal team is pushing for acquittal, or at least a shorter disqualification and no requirement to serve time under house arrest.
The outcome carries major political implications: Le Pen made the presidential run-off in both 2017 and 2022, losing to Emmanuel Macron, who is ineligible to seek a third term under French law. A confirmed ineligibility would significantly alter the field for the 2027 race and the future of RN as a major force in French politics.
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