Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s far-right National Rally party, has been convicted of embezzlement by a French court. The verdict comes after a lengthy legal battle that has been closely watched by both supporters and critics of Le Pen.
The case against Le Pen dates back to 2015 when the European Parliament accused her of misusing funds by paying her chief of staff, Catherine Griset, for a fictitious job as a parliamentary assistant. Le Pen was ordered to repay the 300,000 euros that she had allegedly embezzled, but she refused to comply with the ruling.
Le Pen has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has accused the European Parliament of launching a politically motivated attack against her. She has also argued that the charges against her are part of a broader campaign to discredit her and her party.
Despite her protestations of innocence, the court found Le Pen guilty of embezzlement and ordered her to pay a 75,000 euro fine. The ruling is a blow to Le Pen and her party, which has been gaining ground in French politics in recent years.
So, what’s next for Marine Le Pen and the National Rally party? The conviction could potentially damage Le Pen’s political prospects and weaken her standing among voters. It remains to be seen how the ruling will impact her popularity and whether it will affect her chances in the upcoming presidential election in 2022.
The verdict could also have broader implications for the National Rally party, which has been seeking to mainstream its image and distance itself from its far-right roots. The conviction of its leader could undermine these efforts and potentially alienate moderate voters.
Overall, Marine Le Pen’s embezzlement conviction is a significant development in French politics and one that is likely to have lasting consequences. It remains to be seen how Le Pen and her party will respond to the ruling and whether they will be able to overcome this setback.
