Marine Le Pen is now fixed on what the prosecution demands against her. After a month and a half of hearings at the Paris criminal court, the prosecution on Wednesday, November 13, listed the sentences requested in the context of the trial of the parliamentary assistants of the National Front (the former name of the National Rally). The prosecutors requested against the leader of the RN five years in prison, three of which were suspended, a sentence which remains adjustable, a fine of 300,000 euros, and five years of ineligibility, with provisional execution.
Prosecutors also requested a sentence of ineligibility for the 24 other defendants in this case (including nine former Frontist MEPs, their 12 former parliamentary assistants, accountants and the treasurer). Other party figures are also targeted by heavy requisitions: 18 months in prison, 12 of which are suspended, a 30,000 euro fine and three years of ineligibility with provisional execution against Louis Aliot, mayor of Perpignan; 10 months suspended prison sentence, 20,000 euros fine and 1 year of ineligibility with provisional execution against Julien Odoul, now deputy for Yonne; 18 months in prison, 12 of which were suspended, 30,000 fine, 3 years of ineligibility with provisional execution against Nicolas Bay, MEP who joined Reconquête; 3 years in prison including 2 years suspended, 200,000 euros fine and 5 years of ineligibility with provisional execution against Bruno Gollnisch, ex-MEP and former right-hand man of Jean-Marie Le Pen.
Furthermore, the prosecution wants the party to be fined 2 million euros. “The prosecution is extremely outrageous in its complaints, particularly regarding the provisional execution which it wants to impose on all those who are being prosecuted”reacted Marine Le Pen to the press, denouncing “violence” requisitions. “I hope the court does not follow the prosecution.”
Prosecutor Nicolas Barret asked the question of a “possible provisional execution for additional penalties” of ineligibility, in the name of “prevention of recidivism” and of “protection of public order”. It would make these sentences effective despite appeals, if the court followed these requisitions. From then on, the political future of Marine Le Pen would darken, she who intends to run for the presidential election in 2027.
According to the prosecutor, the prevention of repeat offenses is justified because the acts were committed over several years and only interrupted by the complaint from the European Parliament. In addition, the FN/RN has already been convicted of embezzlement. In turn, throughout their requisitions, the two prosecutors detailed the architecture of a “system” which they believe was implemented at the National Front between 2004 and 2016, consisting of hiring European parliamentary assistants who actually worked for the party.
