PARIS, Sept 30 (Bernama-dpa) -- Marine Le Pen and other French right-wing nationalists are facing Paris criminal court proceedings starting Monday over accusations of receiving funding for fictitious staff in the European Parliament, the German news agency (dpa) reported.
In addition to long-time National Rally party leader Le Pen, her father and party founder Jean-Marie Le Pen, is also among the 28 defendants accused of embezzling public funds.
Marine Le Pen has always denied the allegations, which relate to the years 2004 to 2016. These accusations involve both the National Rally party and former elected officials and assistants.
It concerns the possible fictitious employment of assistants to several French MEPs (members of European Parliament). The central allegation is that Le Pen's party received money from the European Parliament for parliamentary assistants who were actually working for the party.
The case is said to involve a sum of almost €7 million (US$7.8 million). Le Pen paid back €330,000 to the European Parliament a year ago. However, her party emphasised that this was not an admission of misconduct.
The affair has burdened Le Pen and her party for years. If found guilty, the defendants could face heavy fines and prison sentences of up to 10 years.
If convicted, the defendants could also be declared ineligible for five years, which could put the brakes on Le Pen's candidacy in the next presidential election in 2027.
-- BERNAMA-dpa
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