Affair over EU assistants: Anticor criticizes mild sanctions against Marine Le Pen after appeals ruling

Paris – 07.07.2026: The Paris appellate court has announced its decision in the proceedings concerning the employment of European Parliament assistants by the former Front National (today Rassemblement National, RN). The Cour d’appel de Paris confirmed on Tuesday central convictions for embezzlement of public funds. Marine Le Pen was sentenced to a suspended prison term and to a time-limited disqualification from holding public office. The court found that funds of the European Parliament had been misused for party-political activities.

The sharpest criticism came that evening from Anticor. Inès Bernard, secretary general of the anti-corruption organization, told France Inter the sanctions were “comparatively weak.” In particular, the duration of the disqualification was shorter than what had been ordered in the first instance, Bernard said. Anticor announced it would analyze the written reasoning of the verdict and consider further legal steps, such as civil suits or submissions to supervisory bodies.

The affair dates back to 2004 to 2016. According to investigations, assistants were listed on the payroll of the European Parliament but worked to a significant extent for the party organization in France. The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) had documented the case; the Parliament demanded repayments in some instances, some of which have already been made. With the current appeals judgment, the criminal chapter is not necessarily closed: the parties involved can, in principle, appeal to the Court of Cassation, which examines points of law.

It remains unclear what practical consequences the disqualification will have for ongoing or future mandates. In France, such bans do not automatically apply to all offices and candidacies. The wording, duration and modalities of enforcement as well as possible suspensions while appeals are pending are decisive. Parliamentary administrations and electoral authorities must implement the decision concretely within their areas of responsibility. Media reports also point out that parts of the sentence are suspended on probation, which can further relativize the immediate effect.

Politically, the ruling increases pressure on the RN to clarify internal compliance rules, hiring practices and the separation of party and parliamentary work. For opponents of the party, the confirmation of guilt is evidence of a lacking integrity culture; supporters, however, point to the reduced intensity of the sanctions. Beyond the individual case, the proceedings fuel a debate about the control of European funds, the responsibility of national parties in handling EU money and the effectiveness of sanctions against office-holders and mandate-holders. Further reactions from politics and institutions are to be expected once the detailed reasoning of the judgment is available.