Fabrice Leggeri, a former head of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and now a Member of the European Parliament for Marine Le Pen's National Rally, has declared that the party's presidential candidate will prove her innocence. This statement comes just hours after a Paris appeals court upheld Le Pen's conviction for the misuse of millions of euros in European Union funds.
Speaking to reporters outside the Palais de Justice in Paris on Tuesday, Leggeri insisted that the legal process is far from over. "Marine Le Pen will demonstrate her innocence," he said. "This is not the end of the road. We will continue to fight this unjust decision."
The conviction stems from a scheme in which Le Pen and other National Rally officials were found to have used funds allocated for European parliamentary assistants to pay party staff in France between 2004 and 2016. The Paris appeals court upheld the original 2024 verdict, which also imposed a five-year ban on Le Pen holding public office—a penalty that could derail her ambitions for the 2027 French presidential election.
Political Fallout and Legal Strategy
Leggeri's comments reflect a broader strategy by the National Rally to frame the conviction as a politically motivated attack by the French judiciary. Le Pen herself has vowed to run in 2027 despite the ruling, as reported in Marine Le Pen Vows to Run in 2027 French Election Despite Embezzlement Conviction. The party is expected to appeal the decision to France's highest court, the Cour de cassation, a process that could take months or even years.
The legal setback has already sparked internal discussions within the National Rally about potential alternative candidates, including the party's young president, Jordan Bardella. A separate analysis in Paris Court Ruling Could End Marine Le Pen's Presidential Hopes, Boost Bardella explores how the conviction might reshape the party's leadership dynamics.
Leggeri, who joined the National Rally in 2023 after a controversial tenure at Frontex, has become one of Le Pen's most vocal defenders. His background as a senior EU official lends a degree of institutional credibility to the party's claims of judicial overreach, though critics note that the evidence against Le Pen was thoroughly examined in both the original trial and the appeal.
The case has broader implications for European politics. The misuse of EU funds by MEPs has been a recurring issue across the continent, with several members of the European Parliament from various political groups facing similar allegations. The Paris Appeals Court Upholds Le Pen Fraud Conviction, Complicates 2027 Presidential Run underscores the tension between national sovereignty and EU accountability.
Le Pen's legal team is expected to file an appeal within the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the National Rally continues to campaign on a platform of euroscepticism and national sovereignty, arguing that the conviction is an attempt by the "system" to silence a popular opposition figure. Leggeri's insistence on Le Pen's innocence is likely to resonate with the party's base, but it remains to be seen whether it will sway undecided voters or the broader French electorate.
