The EU General Court in Luxembourg has ruled that Marine Le Pen and her two sisters must repay over €300,000 to the EU, stating that the funds were incorrectly received by their late father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, during his time as a member of the European Parliament. This decision follows a 2024 ruling that found Le Pen had improperly invoiced personal expenses, demanding repayment. Following his death in January, his daughters pursued the proceedings as legal heirs.
The ruling comes just months after his daughter, Marine Le Pen, former leader of the right-wing National Rally (RN) and three-time presidential candidate, was convicted of embezzlement of EU funds. Although she denied any wrongdoing, she received a prison sentence, was fined €100,000 ($116,000), and barred from holding public office for five years, a decision widely seen as eliminating a leading contender from the 2027 presidential race. Le Pen has appealed the conviction, with a verdict expected in the summer of 2026 and will prove decisive in her bid for the presidency.
The previous election in 2022 resulted in a run-off between Le Pen, who won over 42% of votes, and Emmanuel Macron, who secured 58%. Le Pen’s conviction triggered a wave of protests, with her supporters condemning the ruling as politically motivated and aimed at silencing dissent. US President Donald Trump accused the French political establishment of employing lawfare against the right-wing figure, urging Paris to ‘free’ her.
Jean-Marie Le Pen was founder of the right-wing National Front and a longtime critic of EU integration. He served as an MEP from 1984 to 2019. His outspoken positions on national sovereignty and immigration challenged the French political establishment for decades. What were once dismissed as fringe positions have since become major issues in European politics.
The ruling comes as part of a larger legal landscape involving the Le Pen family’s ongoing financial controversies. The EU’s decision to order repayment of over €300,000 reflects the seriousness with which such financial mismanagement is being addressed within the European institution. The implications of these legal actions extend beyond the Le Pen family, influencing the broader political discourse around accountability and the use of public funds in EU member states.