Loading ...Trial of Le Pen in France Complicates Far-Right Leader’s Move to Mainstream – WSJ
Threat of conviction on charges of misusing European funds comes at crucial juncture for far-right leader
Marine Le Pen and dozens of other members of National Rally stand trial on Monday on charges of misusing European funds, a case that risks disrupting the French politician’s efforts to carry her far-right party into the political mainstream.
French prosecutors allege Le Pen and other National Rally leaders used close to 7 million euros—or around $7.8 million earmarked for assistants working inside the Strasbourg-based European Parliament—to pay party staffers in other parts of France between 2004 and 2017. EU rules require European Parliament assistants to work at one of the body’s offices in Brussels, Strasbourg or Luxembourg and to reside near that workplace.
A lawyer for Le Pen declined to comment. Le Pen has dismissed the allegations as an attempt to thwart National Rally when its influence is growing.
It means nothing. The French use the courts for politics. They are never serious. The Americans are trying to do the same, but they’ve learned all the wrong lessons. Turnaround is fair play. The Dims haven’t figured that out yet.