Marine Le Pen’s campaign for the 2027 French presidential election has been thrown into turmoil after a court opened a formal investigation into her alleged involvement in an embezzlement scheme. The probe, announced by the Parquet National Financier (PNF) on July 8, 2026, centers on accusations that Le Pen and other members of her National Rally party misused European Union funds intended for parliamentary assistants.
Details of the Investigation
According to the PNF, the investigation focuses on suspicions that between 2004 and 2016, Le Pen and other party figures employed parliamentary assistants who were actually working for the party rather than the European Parliament. The alleged scheme involved using EU funds to pay salaries for these assistants, a practice that is illegal under EU rules. The total amount embezzled is estimated at around €6.8 million, according to sources close to the case.
Le Pen has denied any wrongdoing, calling the investigation a “political witch hunt” aimed at derailing her campaign. In a statement, her legal team said: “These accusations are baseless and we will vigorously defend ourselves in court. Marine Le Pen has always acted within the law.”
Impact on the Presidential Race
The investigation comes at a critical time for Le Pen, who has been leading in opinion polls for the 2027 election. A recent Ifop survey showed her with 31% of voting intentions in the first round, ahead of President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist candidate at 24%. However, the scandal could erode her support, particularly among moderate voters.
Political analyst Jean-Yves Camus of the French Institute of International and Strategic Affairs said: “This investigation is a serious blow to Le Pen’s campaign. It reinforces the narrative that the National Rally is a corrupt party, which could push swing voters to other candidates.”
Le Pen’s main rivals have seized on the news. Édouard Philippe, the former prime minister and a potential candidate, called for “transparency and accountability,” while far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon accused Le Pen of “systematic fraud.”
Legal and Political Precedents
This is not the first time Le Pen has faced legal troubles. In 2022, she was convicted of inciting hatred for comparing Muslim prayers in the street to the Nazi occupation, but she avoided a jail sentence. The current investigation, however, carries more serious implications, as a conviction could lead to a ban from holding public office.
The case also echoes the 2024 conviction of her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, for misusing EU funds, which resulted in a suspended prison sentence. The National Rally has long been under scrutiny for its financial practices, and this investigation could further damage the party’s reputation.
Le Pen’s campaign has already begun damage control, with her team emphasizing that the investigation is not a conviction. “We will continue our campaign with the same determination,” said a campaign spokesperson. “The French people will not be fooled by this last-minute attack.”
However, with the election less than a year away, the timing could not be worse for Le Pen. If the investigation leads to formal charges, she may be forced to step down as candidate, opening the door for a new leader of the National Rally.
