French prosecutors seek a 2-year prison sentence and ineligibility period against Marine Le Pen

Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — Paris prosecutors have requested a 2-year prison sentence against France’s far-right leader Marine Le Pen and an additional 5-year period of ineligibility to run for office. The request came at a high-profile trial over the suspected embezzlement of European Parliament funds where Le Pen’s ability to participate in the presidential race in 2027 is at stake. The National Rally party and 25 of its officials, including Le Pen, are accused of having used money intended for European Union parliamentary aides to instead pay staff who worked for the party between 2004 and 2016, in violation of the bloc’s regulations. Prosecutors notably requested the period of ineligibility to be declared effective immediately.