< p>French prosecutors requested on Wednesday Marine Le Pen, the long-time leader of the far-right party "National Assembly" to be found guilty of embezzlement and sentenced to 5 years in prison, three of which will be suspended, Politico reports.
They also want a ban on running for public office - including the French presidency - for the next five years. The ban on running for public office will also apply after 2027, when the next presidential elections are scheduled.
They also asked the judge to fine her 300,000 euros.
Prosecutors noted that she was both an MEP and a party leader when some of the crimes were committed.
Le Pen denied the accusations.
"It is clear that the only thing the prosecutors wanted was the exclusion of Marine Le Pen from political life," she told reporters after the court session ended.
We remind you that at the end of September it became clear that Marine Le Pen will be tried in Paris on Monday on charges of misuse of European funds. Together with her, 26 other people related to the case stand before the court.
The investigation began almost a decade ago and focuses on allegations that funds intended for the European Parliament's activities were used to pay party officials, reports Reuters.
Le Pen, who twice lost to Emmanuel Macron in the 2017 and 2022 presidential elections, denies all the allegations. The trial provides an opportunity for her to clear her name before the next presidential election in 2027, but it could also damage the image of the party, which continues to struggle with legal problems. Among the accused is her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, who is 96 years old and will not attend the trial for health reasons.
The charges against Le Pen and the other defendants include the use of European funds to pay party officials who in practice did not carry out activities related to the European Parliament. If found guilty, Le Pen could face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to 1 million euros and a ban on holding public office for up to five years.
The trial is expected to last until November 27 and will draw attention to the reputation of the "National Assembly" and its efforts to establish itself as the ruling party in France.