Marine Le Pen found guilty in a case of embezzlement of EU funds

France Marine Le Pen was found guilty of embezzlement of European funds to finance its far -right National Rallye party (RN), in a case that could prevail to stand for the 2027 presidential election.

Le Pen has been accused, as well as more than 20 other personalities from the senior party, of hiring assistants who worked on his business as a nurses rather than for the European Parliament that paid them.

Last year, the prosecutors said that Le Pen’s punishment should not be a fine and a prison sentence of € 300,000 (£ 250,000), but also a must for the public service for five years.

Above all, he said that ineligibility should start immediately and not be suspended while waiting for the call.

The judge has not yet said what would be worth it.

The judges could also decide not to impose an automatic ineligibility on her conviction, which would leave her free to be held in 2027 during a call process.

The court could also give it a shorter term of automatic ineligibility – for example a year – which allowed it to run.

During the trial last year, Le Pen denied having committed “the slightest irregularity”.

Reading the verdict, which started shortly after 10:00 am (9:00 am BST), should take up to two hours.