FRENCH far-right leader Marine Le Pen was set to answer questions from judges at a Paris court today as she and her National Rally (NR) party stood trial over the suspected embezzlement of European Parliament funds. 

Ms Le Pen has denied any wrongdoing.

A guilty verdict in the nine-week trial could significantly affect Ms Le Pen’s political career and her aspirations to stand in France’s next presidential election in 2027. She and her co-defendants could also face 10 years in prison and fines of up to €1 million (around £800,000) each. 

The NR and 25 of its top officials went on trial last month for having used money intended for European parliamentary aides instead to pay staff who worked for the party between 2004 and 2016, in violation of the 27-nation bloc’s regulations. 

The NR was called the National Front at the time.

Ms Le Pen is scheduled to be in the dock for three successive days to answer questions over the use of the EU money to pay for her bodyguard, her chief of staff and two other party aides.

When the trial opened last month, she vowed to present “solid arguments” showing that she and other party officials “did not violate any political and regulatory rules of the European Parliament.”

Additional penalties, such as the loss of civil rights or ineligibility to run for office, could also be imposed, a scenario that could hamper, or even destroy, Ms Le Pen’s goal to mount another presidential bid after the end of President Emmanuel Macron’s term. 

Ms Le Pen was runner-up to Mr Macron in both the 2017 and 2022 presidential elections.

Two other NR officials, including the party’s historic far-right leader, Ms Le Pen’s father Jean-Marie, have faced similar accusations but have been exempted from prosecution on health grounds.

The trial is scheduled to last until November 27.