Marine Le Pen, long-time leader of France’s far-right National Rally and presidential hopeful, goes on trial in Paris on Monday accused of misusing European parliamentary funds.

More than 20 other senior figures in the party are also facing the same charges. They are accused of hiring assistants who worked on party affairs rather than for the European parliament which paid them.

If Le Pen is found guilty, she could face fines and imprisonment – and potentially be declared ineligible to run for office for up to 10 years, hitting her presidential ambitions.

  • @[email protected]
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    93 hours ago

    They went as far as producing fake documents to cover up their embezzlement, and got busted…

  • YeetPics
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    15 hours ago

    Is this the same lady who was outlasted by a cabbage or do all these cretins have the same bone structure?

    • @khannie
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      35 hours ago

      No, that was Liz Truss, the British prime minister and it was a lettuce.

  • @[email protected]
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    6714 hours ago

    It’s getting pretty hopeless to see all these political figures so often put in front of a judge, but it seldom has an impact on their career. Never imprisoned, fines are hardly a problem considering how rich (or friend of rich people) most of them are, or they have someone to take the fall.

    These days, it’s even an advantage to be prosecuted or condemned, making them appear as victims.

    • @Telodzrum
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      2012 hours ago

      France regularly tries and convicts corrupt officials. If this is new to you, it just means you’re not paying attention.

        • @[email protected]
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          149 hours ago

          In 2023, Sarkozy’s attempt to appeal the decision was denied and he has been banned from holding public office for three years and but will still have the option of serving his sentence from home with an electronic bracelet.[182]

          A slap on the wrist ten years after you’ve retired isn’t going to persuade anyone not to do crime for a bunch of money and power.

          • @Telodzrum
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            03 hours ago

            Those goalposts heavy?

            • @[email protected]
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              32 hours ago

              Lol, not everything is a logical fallacy…

              If I had made the original assertion and then moved my position on the matter… That’s moving the goal post.

              When someone disagrees with the underlying premise of your assertion, it’s just a rebuttal.

    • Flying SquidM
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      1913 hours ago

      Let’s hope this is an exception and that Nazi fuck goes to prison.

      • @[email protected]
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        13 hours ago

        Not to be pessimistic but when you did you last see: 1 - nazi where they belong 2 - French justices tackling the real issue

        • @[email protected]
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          16 hours ago

          I’m optimistic. If she goes to jail, maybe she’ll come out rehabilitated like in American History X.

        • Billiam
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          712 hours ago

          Hey, at least one Nazi did go to prison.

          …of course, things went real bad for France not long after that.

        • Flying SquidM
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          613 hours ago

          Like I said, let’s hope this is an exception.