THE LATEST | CANADALe Pen and the officials from the party formerly known as the National Front were accused of having used money intended for European Union parliamentary aides to pay staff who worked for the party between 2004 and 2016, in violation of the 27-nation bloc’s regulations.
Judge Benedicte de Perthuis, reading the verdict of the panel of three justices, said Le Pen had been “at the heart” of the scheme. The judge said that while Le Pen and other co-defendants didn’t enrich themselves personally, the embezzlement was “a democratic bypass” that deceived the parliament and voters.