French prosecutors demand jail time, ban on public office for Le Pen over embezzlement charges
French prosecutors said that France's far-right leader, Marine Le Pen, should face jail time and a ban from public office that would bar her from the 2027 presidential race as she and members of the National Rally party stand trial for using money intended for EU parliamentary aides to pay staff who worked for the party.
French prosecutors demanded Wednesday that far-right leader Marine Le Pen receive a jail sentence and be banned from public office for five years over charges she embezzled European Parliament funds.
The prosecution made the request in a Paris court where Le Pen and other defendants from her National Rally party are on trial accused of creating fake jobs at the EU parliament. She denies the charges.
If granted by the court, the ban would exclude the 56-year-old from running in France's 2027 presidential election.
The prosecution demanded the ban be effective immediately, even if the defence team appeals.
The National Rally, like other far-right parties around Europe, is riding high following a strong performance in European elections in June.
The prosecution demanded that all of the two dozen defendants be excluded from running from public office.
It demanded a five-year jail sentence for Le Pen, calling for at least two years of that to be a "convertible" custodial sentence, meaning there would be a possibility of partial release.
(AFP)
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