France: The prosecutor requests sanctions of ineligibility in the case of Marine Le Pen, accused of using European Parliament funds for employees of the National Front.

The French prosecutor announced that it will request the Paris Court of Appeal judges to impose ineligibility sanctions in the case of Marine Le Pen, who is involved in an appeal process related to parliamentary assistants of the National Front. Prosecutor Thierry Ramonatxo criticized Le Pen's strategy of delegitimizing the judicial system, which affects her chances of running in the 2027 presidential elections.

In the first instance, Le Pen was sentenced to four years in prison (two suspended) and fined 100,000 euros, as well as a five-year ban from holding public office. The charges concern the use of European Parliament funds to pay party employees during the period 2004-2016. The appeals court could make a decision by summer, and a reduction of the ban could allow Marine Le Pen to return to politics.