November 14, 2024 10:34 GMT
FRANCE: Prosecutors Seek Prison & Public Office Ban For Le Pen, Risks 2027 Run
FRANCE
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Prosecutors in the trial of 25 individuals from the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) accused of embezzling EU parliamentary funds to pay party staff have requested that, if found guilty, party figurehead Marine Le Pen be sentenced to five years in prison (three of which would be suspended), be fined EUR300k, and receive a five-year ban on running for public office. The prosecution has also requested that if sentenced, the ban is applied immediately rather than after any appeal. If this were executed, Le Pen would be barred from running in the 2027 presidential election.
- Le Pen accused the prosecutors of 'violence' and 'excess' in their sentencing demands, angrily claiming in front of a press scrum that they sought to "deprive her and deprive the French of the ability to vote for who they wish."
- There has been little presidential polling carried out so far, with the election still two-and-a-half years away. Nevertheless early surveys show Le Pen as strong favourite to win a plurality in the first round. Polls from earlier in 2024 show her handily beating then-PM Gabriel Attal and stalwart of the far-left Jean-Luc Melenchon, and level with former PM Edouard Philippe in hypothetical run-offs.
- A verdict date will be set by 27 November, with the actual verdict expected to be delivered in early 2025. Should Le Pen be found guilty and the prosecutors' recommendations be met, it could spark a major backlash among RN lawmakers and supporters.
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