French far-right leader Marine Le Pen acknowledged a « mistake » at a key appeals trial in Paris
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen acknowledged “a mistake” on Wednesday at an appeals trial hearing in Paris that could derail her presidential ambitions, but firmly denied accusations she was at the center of a fraudulent system to siphon off European Union funds.
Le Pen, 57, is seeking to overturn a March 2025 ruling that found her guilty of misusing EU Parliament funds in the hiring of aides from 2004 to 2016.
She acknowledged some people paid as EU parliamentary aides performed work for her 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 three-judge panel.
The five-week trial that started last week could significantly impact France’s political landscape. The appeals court is expected to issue its ruling before the summer.
