02/04/205
On March 31, 2025, Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Rally (RN) party, was convicted by a Paris court of embezzling European Union funds. The court sentenced her to four years in prison, with two years suspended, and imposed a five-year ban on seeking public office, effectively barring her from the 2027 presidential election.
The conviction stems from allegations that Le Pen and other party members – when Members of the EU Parliament approximately a decade ago – misused roughly €4.4 million in EU funds. Those funds were intended for European Union parliamentary aides but were instead used to pay staff who worked for the party between 2004 and 2016, violating the 27-nation bloc’s regulations. Le Pen has announced her intention to appeal the verdict, a criminal trial that may take years to resolve.
While Marine Le Pen’s verdict has raised significant questions about its impact on French politics, it may also be consequential for European Union politics. True: Le Pen herself is not a member of the European Parliament, but her party was a member of the Identity and Democracy (ID) group at the time of the contested facts and is today a member of the newly formed Patriots for Europe group in the current parliamentary cycle.
Oversight by the Authority for European Political Parties and Foundations
This affiliation makes RN and its members (including former members) subject to scrutiny under the little-known “Authority for European Political Parties and Foundations.” This body, established under Regulation 1141/2014, is tasked with monitoring and enforcing compliance among European political parties and their affiliated foundations.
Compliance with EU Values and Transparency Rules
According to the regulation, the Authority must oversee whether Euro parties adhere to core EU values, including the rule of law (Article 3.1(c)), and whether these parties comply with their internal transparency commitments (Article 4.2(e)). If a party is found in violation of these principles, the Authority has the power to impose sanctions, which can range from suspending EU funding to outright deregistration of the party at the EU level.
The Likelihood of Action Against the Patriots
Given past trends and the current political climate, it is unlikely that the Authority will take immediate action against the Patriots. In such an instance, other EU institutions, including the EU Parliament, the Council, or the European Commission, have the right to formally request the Authority to verify a party’s compliance. This would then trigger a review process involving the advice of a ‘committee of independent eminent persons’ – foreseen by the same Regulation -who is tasked to provide expert advice on the matter.
Legal Case for Inaction
In case of inaction by the Authority, this can be brought before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) for failure to fulfil its obligations.
This legal mechanism ensures that EU institutions retain oversight over political parties operating at the EU level, reinforcing the integrity of the Union’s democratic and legal framework.
What’s Next in the European Parliament?
In sum, while Le Pen’s verdict in France does not directly alter EU politics, it brings renewed attention to the mechanisms available for ensuring that Europarties remain accountable to EU values. Whether the Authority will step in remains an open question—one that could shape the trajectory of far-right influence in the European Parliament in the years to come.