Khaberni - On Tuesday, the French prosecution demanded that the far-right leader Marine Le Pen be banned from holding any public office for 5 years and imprisoned for 4 years, in a crucial appeal trial in Paris that could affect her eligibility for the 2027 presidential elections.
The prosecution seeks to uphold a verdict issued in March 2025 that convicted Le Pen of misusing European Parliament funds between 2004 and 2016, by employing assistants at the expense of the European Union for the benefit of her party.
The prosecutors described these practices as forming a "system" aimed at "embezzling public funds" from the European Union.
In addition, the prosecution requested that Le Pen be subjected to house arrest for one year with an electronic tag, and a financial fine of 100,000 euros (118,000 dollars).
The prosecution did not request the immediate execution of the sentence, pending a later decision by the appeal court, expected to be issued before next summer.
Le Pen, who is 57 years old, faces increasing pressure politically and legally, amid speculations about the impact of this ruling on the upcoming French presidential election scene.
