Prosecutor in corruption trial seeks election ban for Le Pen

A prosecutor has requested a five-year prison sentence and a five-year ban from public office for Marine Le Pen at a trial in which the far-right leader and 24 others are accused of embezzling EU funds.

- Angelique Chrisafis

The trial, which comes almost a decade after initial investigations started, threatens to undermine efforts by her National Rally (RN) party to polish its image before the 2027 presidential election, which many believe Le Pen could win.

The Paris prosecutor requested a €300,000 (£250,000) fine, five years in prison and an ineligibility sentence against Le Pen, with "provisional execution" - meaning the ban on running for public office would take immediate effect. If the court finds Le Pen guilty of the charges with provisional execution, she will not be able to run in the elections, even if she appeals against the judgment.