Marine Le Pen Concedes 'Mistake' in High-Stakes EU Funds Appeal Trial
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has publicly acknowledged making "a mistake" during a critical appeals trial in Paris this week, as she battles to salvage her political career and potential presidential ambitions. The five-week hearing, which commenced last week, represents a pivotal moment that could dramatically reshape France's political landscape ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Appealing Against 2025 Conviction
The 57-year-old politician is seeking to overturn a March 2025 ruling that found her guilty of misusing European Union Parliament funds between 2004 and 2016. That original conviction resulted in a five-year ban from holding elected office, two years of house arrest with electronic monitoring, and an additional two-year suspended sentence for violating the 27-nation bloc's financial regulations.
During intense questioning before a three-judge panel on Wednesday, Le Pen admitted that some individuals paid as EU parliamentary assistants had indeed performed work for her political party, then known as the National Front, during that period. "The mistake lies here: there were certainly some aides, on a case-by-case basis, who must have worked either marginally, more substantially, or entirely … for the benefit of the party. And voilà," Le Pen told the court.
Denial of Systematic Fraud
Despite this admission, Le Pen firmly rejected accusations that she was at the centre of what a Paris court previously described as "a fraudulent system" used to siphon off EU Parliament funds worth 2.9 million euros (approximately $3.4 million). The original ruling characterised the embezzlement as "a democratic bypass" that created unfair competition.
Calm and steady throughout the proceedings, Le Pen insisted her party never intentionally committed any illegal acts. "I wouldn't say we did everything perfectly. Some criticism can be made about us," she conceded. "But we acted in complete good faith."
Questioning Over Specific Cases
Under scrutiny from Chief Judge Michèle Agi, Le Pen acknowledged "ambiguity" in some assistants' assignments. She admitted that her personal assistant, who held a contract as an EU parliamentary aide, "may have bought some flight tickets for me as president of the party, I admit it, yes."
Judge Agi pointedly noted that as a Member of the European Parliament from 2004 and president of her party from 2011, Le Pen had personally approved those hirings. "You are a lawyer, you know the law — inevitably, a signature, a contract are notions that have a meaning for you," Agi told the defendant.
Defence Strategy and Political Implications
Le Pen's defence strategy appeared to pivot on blaming the European Parliament for allegedly failing to inform her party that their hiring practices might contravene regulations. When questioned about her bodyguard's employment arrangement, she suggested his case was "a bit special" because few MEPs require protection, implying the European Parliament should have made allowances.
The appeals court is expected to deliver its verdict before summer, with enormous consequences for French politics. If ruled eligible to run, Le Pen remains a leading contender for the 2027 presidential election. Should she be declared ineligible, she has already designated her 30-year-old protégé, Jordan Bardella, as her successor in the presidential bid.
This trial represents not just a legal battle but a crucial test for France's far-right movement, which has gained significant ground in recent years. The outcome will determine whether Le Pen can maintain her position at the forefront of French opposition politics or whether a generational transition will be forced upon her party.
