Marine Le Pen, leader of the right-wing party National Rally’s parliamentary faction, announced that a petition in her support has garnered 250,000 signatures.
Launched by the party last week, the petition claims that the accusations against Le Pen represent interference in the activities of a political party, a violation of the principle of separation of powers and a threat to freedom of speech.
A petition that has gathered a quarter of a million signatures in just a few days is a peaceful way for people to express their indignation, Le Pen wrote on the social media platform X.
The trial against Le Pen and 26 members of her party began on September 30 in Paris. They are accused of misusing European Parliament funds between 2004 and 2016, including paying staff who worked exclusively for the party. National Rally could face a fine of €2 million.
The hearings are set to conclude on November 27, with the verdict expected in early 2025.
