The French public awaits the verdict in Marine Le Pen’s embezzlement trial, which is expected to conclude tomorrow (Monday 31 March).

Le Pen is the leader of the far-right Rassemblement National (National Rally) political party, which has has its roots in the previous Front National (National Front) party founded by Jean-Marie Le Pen, Marine’s father.

“Marine Le Pen, the French far-right leader, has tried and failed three times to become president. Now, even as her popularity rises, she may be barred from taking part in an election to lead France if she is found guilty of embezzlement on Monday,” according to The New York Times.

“Such a verdict, far from certain, has been equated by Ms. Le Pen with a ‘political death’ sentence and a ‘very violent attack on the will of the people.’ It would ignite a major political storm at a time when the French Fifth Republic has appeared increasingly dysfunctional.”

“On the one hand stands the principle, as Nicolas Barret, one of the prosecutors, put it in closing arguments last year, that ‘We are not here in a political arena but a legal one, and the law applies to all.’

“On the other hand lies the fear, expressed by some leading politicians, that a ban would undermine French democracy by feeding a suspicion that it is skewed against the growing forces of the hard right.”

The charges against Marine Le Pen are quite serious. “Prosecutors have accused Ms. Le Pen and other members of the National Rally of embezzling some $4.8 million in European Union funds, essentially through no-show jobs at the European Parliament for lawmaker ‘assistants,’ who were rarely there and worked as party staff.”

Scholars of French history and culture, including members of the Society for French Historical Studies and the Western Society for French History, are following the political developments closely.

Cohen, Roger. “Possible Electoral Ban on Marine Le Pen Has France on Edge.” The New York Times (30 March 2025).