Paris appeals court to rule on embezzlement case involving French politician

Paris' appeals court is scheduled to rule Tuesday in an embezzlement case that centers on the use of European Parliament funds between 2004 and 2016. A lower court convicted the defendant and other party members of paying party staff with money intended for parliamentary assistants.

The sentence included prison time, suspended pending appeal, and a five-year ban on holding elected office that took effect March 31, 2025.

Possible outcomes The appeals court could acquit the defendant of all charges.

Prosecutors could still challenge an acquittal at the Court of Cassation, France's highest court. The court could also uphold a conviction but shorten the office-holding ban to two years or less. A shorter ban would expire before the first round of the presidential election planned for April 2027.

Prosecutors asked the appeals court to impose four years in prison, three of them suspended, plus a five-year ban on holding office. The court may also decide whether any ban takes immediate effect. The defendant told the court that some employees performed party work while listed as parliamentary aides and said the arrangement was believed to be permitted.

The defendant also stated that European Parliament officials did not issue warnings at the time.

Campaign implications A prison sentence, electronic monitoring, or other restrictions could limit the ability to conduct a nationwide campaign even if the office-holding ban is reduced. The defendant has said that being unable to campaign freely would prevent a presidential bid.

France's presidential race is expected to take shape in September, with candidates required to obtain 500 endorsements from elected officials. The Court of Cassation has indicated it would aim to rule before the 2027 election if asked to review the case.