On the first day of her appeal trial in the FN/RN parliamentary assistants case, Marine Le Pen partially shifted her defense strategy on January 13, 2026, in Paris. Previously denying any offense, the RN leader now admits a possible unintentional fault while blaming the European Parliament for oversight failures on disputed contracts.
The Paris Court of Appeal began hearings on January 13, 2026, for Marine Le Pen and 11 co-defendants in the long-running case over alleged misuse of European Parliament funds for party staff between 2004 and 2016. The trial, in the first chamber of the Palace of Justice, is scheduled to run until February 11 or 12.
Le Pen, convicted in first instance on March 31, 2025, to four years in prison (two firm under electronic bracelet), a €100,000 fine, and five years' immediate ineligibility—currently barring her 2027 presidential bid—altered her approach. Unlike her initial outright denial, the 57-year-old Pas-de-Calais MP stated: "I have no feeling of having committed the slightest offense" in hiring assistants in 2004, 2009, and 2014. She added: "If an offense was committed... I am willing to hear it," emphasizing no intent and faulting the European Parliament for not alerting on the contracts.
Co-defendants including Louis Aliot, Julien Odoul, Nicolas Bay, and Bruno Gollnisch echoed this, denying intent. European Parliament lawyer Patrick Maisonneuve highlighted this 'evolution' in defense, noting surprise after prior contestation.
The €3.2 million in damages (after €1.1 million reimbursed) hangs in the balance. A decision, expected in June 2026, could solidify Le Pen's ineligibility, potentially elevating Jordan Bardella.
