Potential 5 Year Jail Term & Political Ban Loom Over Marine Le Pen

[Social Media]

 

The Paris prosecutor has requested a five-year prison sentence and a five-year ban from public office for French far-right leader Marine Le Pen in a high-profile case that could impact her bid for the 2027 presidential election. Le Pen, along with 24 others, stands accused of misappropriating European Union funds intended for parliamentary work, redirecting them to pay party staff in France.

 

The trial, nearly a decade in the making, centers on allegations that Le Pen and her colleagues used EU parliamentary funds to cover salaries for staff who were primarily working for the National Rally (RN), formerly known as the National Front. On Wednesday, the Paris prosecutor demanded that Le Pen face a €300,000 fine, along with the prison sentence and political ban. The prosecutor's request included provisional execution, meaning that if Le Pen were found guilty, she would be barred from running in future elections, even if she chose to appeal. The RN, buoyed by a strong showing in the recent European elections, is now under significant scrutiny as it attempts to reframe itself in the public eye.

 

Prosecutor Nicolas Barret emphasized the need for accountability, stating, “The law applies to all.” Barret underscored that the proposed ban would “prohibit the defendants from running in future local or national elections,” while he also sought a convertible sentence for at least two of the five years, allowing Le Pen the possibility of partial release. Seated in the front row, Le Pen reportedly listened as Barret laid out the penalties that could change the course of her political career. Later, Le Pen argued that the prosecution was an attempt to rob French citizens of their choice in leadership, stating, “I think the prosecutors’ wish is to deprive the French people of the ability to vote for who they want.”

 

The controversy dates back to 2015, when the alleged misuse of funds first surfaced. The claims involve the period between 2004 and 2016, when prosecutors assert that parliamentary assistants were exclusively working for the party rather than for European legislative purposes. European Parliament authorities estimate that the fraudulent contracts cost the legislature around €3 million, of which the RN has already repaid €1 million, although the party insists this reimbursement is not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.

 

During the trial, Le Pen denied any wrongdoing, asserting, “I have absolutely no sense of having committed the slightest irregularity, or the slightest illegal act.” When questioned about how she chose her parliamentary assistants and their specific responsibilities, Le Pen gave vague responses, sometimes indicating she could not recall the details. Her denial of guilt has remained consistent as she maintains that her actions were in line with her responsibilities.

 

Should she be convicted, Le Pen retains the right to appeal, although the provisional execution measure would enforce her ineligibility for elections during the appeal process. The stakes are high for Le Pen and her party as the RN looks to shed its past and appeal to a broader base ahead of upcoming elections.

 

Based on a report by the Guardian 2024-11-15

 

 

 

[mfd101]

Couldn't happen to a nicer person.

[Hanaguma]

Lawfare?

 

[JonnyF]

Wow.

 

If you wanted mayhem on the streets of Paris, you really couldn't design a better plan. Let's hope this doesn't go ahead, France has enough problems right now. 

[Chomper Higgot]

21 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Wow.

 

If you wanted mayhem on the streets of Paris, you really couldn't design a better plan. Let's hope this doesn't go ahead, France has enough problems right now. 

The streets of Paris were designed with mayhem in mind.

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2018/12/20/parisian-boulevards-built-wide-not-for-cars-but-to-better-quell-street-protests/

 

[JonnyF]

6 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The streets of Paris were designed with mayhem in mind.

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2018/12/20/parisian-boulevards-built-wide-not-for-cars-but-to-better-quell-street-protests/

 

 

It's a good job they were, if France is to go down the American Democrats route of attempting to remove political rivals with bogus court cases. 

[Chomper Higgot]

8 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

It's a good job they were, if France is to go down the American Democrats route of attempting to remove political rivals with bogus court cases. 

There is nothing bogus about the case against Le Pen, though your claims regarding the Democrats are bogus.

[jayboy]

13 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

It's a good job they were, if France is to go down the American Democrats route of attempting to remove political rivals with bogus court cases. 

 

Or the Thai way  as well.

[JonnyF]

5 minutes ago, jayboy said:

 

Or the Thai way  as well.

 

Yep.

 

Unfortunately for French authorities the French people are not the "Mai Pen Rai" types.

 

[Yagoda]

23 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

There is nothing bogus about the case against Le Pen, though your claims regarding the Democrats are bogus.

I know nothing about the case against LePen, but you dont either. The issue of the lawfare against Trump has already been decided by the biggest jury of all.

 

The American people. They count. You dont.

[Chomper Higgot]

1 minute ago, Yagoda said:

I know nothing about the case against LePen, but you dont either. The issue of the lawfare against Trump has already been decided by the biggest jury of all.

 

The American people. They count. You dont.

It seems you know nothing of the cases against Trump either.

[Yagoda]

21 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

It seems you know nothing of the cases against Trump either.

In the depths of my biggest stone of all time, I still know more than you. But hey, legal genius, tell us how evidence adduced at the Bragg Lawfare Trial did not violate the Molineaux Rule. Also did the trial court err in charging that the jury did not have to find what crime formed the underlying predicate for the felony? 

 

You should have the answers right at your fingertips.

 

Oh I forgot to mention, you dont speak French, so how do you feel qualified to comment about LePen? 

[candide]

11 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Wow.

 

If you wanted mayhem on the streets of Paris, you really couldn't design a better plan. Let's hope this doesn't go ahead, France has enough problems right now. 

It seems the guy who ranted  many times about the corrupt EP is not happy when MPs are indicted. 😀

[candide]

11 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

Lawfare?

 

Not at all. 

That's the law. It applies to anyone.

 

On top of it, this is part of a broader investigation and the first people who have been convicted were members of a party supporting Macron.

 

Her main problem is that they found significant evidence (messages) confirming she was aware of it.

 

The funny aspect is that she regularly complained about corrupt politicians and called for going after them! 😀

[john donson]

when will they stop the joke called EU parliament?  hardly ever show up at 10.000 euro salary and pension for life

[thaibeachlovers]

On 11/15/2024 at 9:04 AM, Social Media said:

Later, Le Pen argued that the prosecution was an attempt to rob French citizens of their choice in leadership, stating, “I think the prosecutors’ wish is to deprive the French people of the ability to vote for who they want.”

Of course it is, IMO. They saw how the Dems almost got to eliminate Trump and decided to do it themselves, IMO.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 11/15/2024 at 1:08 PM, mfd101 said:

Couldn't happen to a nicer person.

Not a believer in democracy then?