Breaking: French far-right leader Le Pen found guilty in embezzlement trial
The judges in Paris found all of the defendants guilty on Monday morning in a case relating to fake jobs at the European parliament.
However the main focus in the case is whether Le Pen herself will be barred from holding public office.
Sentences are expected to be announced later on Monday.
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Prosecutors had requested a five-year jail term and a five-year ban on holding public office for Le Pen.
The judges have the choice of either imposing a ban on holding public office effective immediately, or suspended while she appeals. Because appeals can be spun out for several years this would likely amount to the difference between Le Pen being able to stand in the next presidential election (scheduled for 2027) or not.
If the ban is effective immediately, then she has the option of appealing to the Conseil Constitutionnel.
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The Le Pen embezzlement case explained
The case centred around 'fake jobs' - Le Pen and her co-defendants accused of taking up to €3 million in European Parliament funds for staff members who actually worked for the Rassemblement National party in France, and in some cases had never even visited the European Parliament.
A bodyguard, a secretary, Le Pen's chief of staff and a graphic designer were all hired under false pretences over a period between 2004 and 2016. The case was first flagged in 2015.
Le Pen's father Jean-Marie - founder of the party - was originally among the defendants but was excused from the case on health grounds. He died in January at the age of 96.
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OPINION Le Pen's future in the balance and France is heading for a messy constitutional row
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Euronews
7 hours ago
- Euronews
What to expect at the G7 Summit attended by Trump and Zelenskyy
World leaders are arriving in Canada on Sunday for a Group of Seven summit in the resort town of Kananaskis, Alberta in the Canadian Rockies. The Group of Seven comprises Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan, Germany and Britain. The European Union is also attending as well as other heads of state who are not part of the G7 but have been invited by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend and is expected to meet with his American counterpart Donald Trump, a reunion coming just months after their contentious Oval Office encounter, which laid bare the risks of having a meeting with the US president. Other world leaders will be meeting with Trump both in a group setting and for bilateral talks, which are often precarious as foreign leaders must navigate between placating and confronting him. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum will attend and said she expects to have her first in-person meeting with Trump. Among the other newcomers are German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Ahead of the G7 summit, there are already signs of subtle pushback against Trump from fellow leaders in the group. French President Emanuel Macron planned to visit Greenland over the weekend in a show of European solidarity. Carney has said the US is no longer the 'predominant' force in the world after Trump's tariffs created fissures in a decades-long partnership between the US and its northern neighbour. 'We stood shoulder to shoulder with the Americans throughout the Cold War and in the decades that followed, as the United States played a predominant role on the world stage," Carney said this past week in French. "Today, that predominance is a thing of the past.' The new prime minister added that with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the US became the global hegemon, a position of authority undermined by Trump's transactional nature that puts little emphasis on defending democratic values or the rule of law. 'Now the United States is beginning to monetize its hegemony: charging for access to its markets and reducing its relative contributions to our collective security,' Carney said. Israel's attacks on Iran has added a new wrinkle to the global picture and will likely dominate discussions during the summit. Other topics will likely include Trump's looming tariffs and the war in Ukraine. Italy's Meloni has positioned herself as a 'bridge' between the Trump administration and the rest of Europe. But Italy's strong support of Ukraine and Trump's threatened tariffs on European goods have put Meloni, the only European leader to attend Trump's inauguration, in a difficult position. But even as other G7 leaders defuse any public disputes with Trump, the US president's vision for the world remains largely incompatible with what they want. The grand military parade that US President Donald Trump had been wanting for years barrelled down Constitution Avenue in Washington, DC on Saturday with tanks, troops and a 21-gun salute. It played out against the counterpoint of protests around the country by those who decried the US leader as a dictator and would-be king. During the parade, which coincided with Trump's 79th birthday, he sat on a special viewing stand south of the White House to watch the display of American military might, which began early and moved swiftly as light rain fell and dark clouds shrouded the Washington Monument. The procession, with more than 6,000 soldiers and 128 Army tanks, was one Trump tried to make happen in his first term after seeing such an event in Paris in 2017, but the plans never came together until this year, when the parade was added to an event recognising the Army's 250th anniversary. Hours before the parade started, demonstrators turned out in streets and parks around the nation to sound off against the Republican president. They criticized Trump for using the military to respond to people protesting his deportation efforts and for the muscular military show in the US capital. In Washington, anti-war protesters unfurled signs that said 'Homes not drones' not far from a display of armoured vehicles, helicopters and military-grade equipment on the National Mall set up to commemorate the Army's birthday. Vendors outside the festival sold gear marking the military milestone. Others hawked Trump-themed merchandise. Doug Haynes, a Navy veteran who voted for Trump, attended the daylong festival to celebrate the Army's 250th birthday, but said that the parade 'was a little over the top.' Pointing at a nearby tank, Haynes said that having them roll down the street is a 'very bold statement to the world, perhaps.' 'No Kings' rallies unfolded in hundreds of cities, designed to counter what organisers said were Trump's plans to feed his ego on his 79th birthday and flag day. Organisers said they picked the name to support democracy and speak out against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. The parade was added just a few weeks ago to the planned celebration of the Army's birthday and has drawn criticism for its price tag of up to $45 million and the possibility that the lumbering tanks could tear up city streets. The Army has taken a variety of steps to protect the streets, including laying metal plates along the route. The daylong display of America's Army comes as Trump has shown his willingness to use the nation's military might in ways other US presidents have typically avoided. In the last week, he has activated the California National Guard without the governor's permission and dispatched the US Marines to provide security during Los Angeles protests related to immigration raids, prompting a state lawsuit to stop the deployments. A previously calm demonstration in downtown LA quickly turned chaotic as police on horseback charged at the crowd, striking some with wood rods and batons as they cleared the street in front of the federal building. Officers then fired tear gas and crowd control projectiles at the large group, sending demonstrators, hot dog vendors and passing pedestrians fleeing through the street. Some have since regrouped, ignoring an LAPD dispersal order. 'Less lethal has been approved. Less lethal may cause discomfort and pain. It is advised that all persons leave the area,' police said in a post on X. 'It was a total 100% over-reaction. We weren't doing anything but standing around chanting peaceful protest,' said Samantha Edgerton, a 37-year-old bartender. Marines appeared for the first time at a demonstration since they were deployed to city on Friday with the stated mission of defending federal property. Dozens of Marines stood shoulder to shoulder in full combat gear, hands on their rifles, beside other law enforcement, including Department of Homeland Security officers at the National Guard. Directly in front of them, hundreds of protesters jeered in English and Spanish, telling the federal troops to go home.
Euronews
17 hours ago
- Euronews
What's at stake for Europe if the Strait of Hormuz is blocked?
Thousands of pride parade attendees took to the streets in Vienna, Warsaw, Rome and Athens on Saturday, waving rainbow flags and holding up signs of protest as they celebrated pride month, while also demanding political and social equality for the LGBTQ+ community in their respective countries. Warsaw's pride parade went through the city centre and headed through the Old Town. The "Equality Parade" began on Saturday afternoon, and was attended by thousands of demonstrators. Under the slogan "Love is the answer", the event's organisers expressed the hope that they could help others to express their LGBTQ+ identity openly and without fear. "We don't want to talk about such matters somewhere underground, we don't want to hide in basements - we come to the surface to talk about it," said Rafał Dembe, president of the Equality Volunteering Foundation at a press conference ahead of the march. During the conference, the organisers said that the demonstration in Warsaw is the largest of its kind in the country. Among the most notable attendees of the parade were mayor of Warsaw Rafał Trzaskowski, who recently found himself on the losing side of the country's presidential election, member of the European Parliament Robert Biedroń and Minister of Equality Katarzyna Kotula. Four days earlier, Kotula submitted a bill to parliament to introduce civil partnerships, including for same-sex couples. Speaking to the crowd at the start of the parade, Trzaskowski said "Remember that I have been saying for many years that together we are building Warsaw, which is an open and tolerant city, where these values are not only appreciated but also promoted." Braving the scorching hot 35 degree weather, thousands of people walked the city of Rome from Piazza della Repubblica to Via Cavour to participate in the Italian capital's pride march. Three motorcyclists with roaring engines kicked off the parade. Right behind them was the leader of the parade, holding a large banner with the word "Outlaw", written on it. The banner is in protest of what organisers see as the conservative incumbent government's lack of support for LGBTQ+ rights. Among those taking part in the demonstration were the spokesperson of the Capitoline parade, Mario Colamarino, and the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri. ''We are here for the rights of all, to have a more inclusive and equal Italy, better than the one we have now. 'Outlaws' is what we are in this country today, we must fight and we must be many," said Colamarino. The event in Rome was held not only to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride, but also to protest the ongoing conflict in Gaza, for which a one-minute silence was held. Many Palestinian flags and banners were waved alongside rainbow flags, as people chanted slogans for free love and equality. Along with house and pop music, the Italian partisan anthem "Bella Ciao" was also sung by the demonstrators. A float satirically depicting Hungarian Prime Miniser Viktor Orban - whose government was last week denied a request to hold a pride march in Budapest - was also rolled out, an initiative by the Italian +Europa party. "Today, more than ever, it is important to attend pride at a time when in the world there are autocracies, illiberal democracies, fundamentalist regimes that attack civil rights and individual freedoms in Hungary, as well as in Russia and Trump's United States, where some words, such as 'gay', are banned on institutional websites", said the party's secretary, Riccardo Magi. 2025 marks the 20th year since the first Athens Pride was held, and this year's slogan is "We Count". This has a double meaning in Greek - the phrase can either mean "we matter", but can also mean to take stock of something. The latter is in reference to recollecting everything that has happened since June 2005, when the first Athens pride parade was held. According to the organisers, this includes joy, such as the pride and liberation of the first years, losses due to hate and homophobic attacks, victories such as same-sex civic union and marriage, but also disappointment such as the stigma that remains, as well as the fight for visibility and rights. "Now, more than ever, the global context shows us that no acquis (law) can be taken for granted. Instead, our rights and our very existence are being challenged every day. The rise of the far right and the normalisation of hate speech in political and media discourse are a threat to all of us. The exclusion of LGBTQ+ refugees and migrants is intensifying, leading to the exclusion of people on the basis of racist, sexist, homophobic and/or transphobic motives," the organisers say on their website. "For all this, our presence in the public space will continue to be our undeniable right, a historical duty and an act of resistance against a public discourse of abuse that seeks to erase us. The struggle for equality is ongoing and remains unabated. We are and will be here to keep them going," the organisers say on their website. Pride month is celebrated in Athens with a variety of cultural events, screenings, performances, parties, shows, panel discussions, workshops and seminars, many of point to the now 20-year history of pride in the Greek capital, with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives also taking centre stage. Revolutionary Guard commander Sardar Esmail Kowsari told local media in an interview closing the Strait of Hormuz "is under consideration, and Iran will make the best decision with determination." "Our hands are wide open when it comes to punishing the enemy, and the military response was only part of our overall response," added Kowsari, who is a member of parliament in addition to his military position. Iran's short- and medium-range missiles would be capable of targeting oil infrastructure platforms, pipelines in the Strait, or even attacking commercial vessels, and surface-to-surface missiles could target tankers or ports along the Gulf. Airstrikes using aircraft and drones could disable navigation or radar equipment at major shipping ports in the region. Unmanned drones like Iran's Shahed models could potentially be used to attack specific shipping lanes or infrastructure in the Strait. Iran could attempt to deploy warships to physically block access to the Strait. In 2012, Iran launched a cyberattack on Saudi Arabia's oil industry, showing its growing capability in this domain. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most strategically vital chokepoints in the world, and any blockade by Iran would pose serious risks for Europe. Blocking the Strait was one of four Iranian responses to the conflict including terrorist acts on mainland Europe which security expert Claude Moniquet cited in an interview with Euronews. It would be 'a disaster for Europe', the former French intelligence office said. Here are some of the reasons why. Roughly 20% of global oil and a significant portion of natural gas pass through the Strait. Europe imports oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Gulf states Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE much of which travels through the Strait. If Iran blocks it, global oil prices would spike, and Europe could face energy shortages, especially in countries dependent on Middle Eastern fuel. A sudden oil price surge would increase inflation, energy costs, and disrupt industries across Europe. Manufacturing, transport, and agriculture sectors would be especially vulnerable. Market reactions and volatility in European stock exchanges could be a knock-on effect. A blockade could trigger military confrontations involving the US, EU navies, and Gulf states, risking a broader regional war. Europe might be drawn into the conflict through NATO obligations or alliances, especially with countries like France or the UK maintaining naval presence in the region. Beyond oil, the Strait is a key route for global shipping. Disruption could delay European imports of raw materials, electronics, and consumer goods, affecting supply chains. Insurance premiums for shipping could spike, raising costs for European businesses and consumers. At least three people have been injured and 100 tonnes of humanitarian aid were destroyed after a Russian drone strike on a warehouse in Ukraine's southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia in the early hours of Saturday. The injured were two police officers and a civilian, according to local officials. The damage from the strike is estimated at around $3 million. The aid was set to be provided to people who were internally displaced, as well as to residents in frontline areas of the war. Shops, a multi-storey building and a public transport stop were also reportedly damaged in the attack. Oleksandr Beluga, founder of the NGO Beluga UA, told local media ""Now everything has been destroyed, two days ago we received help from 5 trucks. There is approximately $3 million worth of damage here." Aside from Zaporizhzhia, the regions of Kharkiv, Donetsk and Dnipro were also targeted in an attack which consisted of a total of 58 Shahedattack UAVs, as well as various types of imitation drones, reported the Ukrainian air force. 43 were neutralised, they said, with 23 being shot down and 20 having their signals jammed. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military also reported that it had carried out overnight drone strikes targeting two Russian chemical plants that were tied to the production of explosives. "As part of efforts to reduce (Russia's) ability to produce explosives and ammunition, the Ukrainian Armed Forces' drone systems, in coordination with other Defense Forces units, struck critical facilities of Russia's military-industrial complex overnight," said Ukraine's General Staff. The chemical plants were reportedly located in Stavropol Krai and Samara Oblast. Both were identified as major suppliers of raw materials and components for the production of Russia's weapons and fuel. The Stavropol governor confirmed the strike, saying that drone debris had landed in the city's industrial zone. On Friday, the bodies of 1,200 soldiers were returned to Ukraine as part of an agreement reached between Russia and Ukraine during their 2 June peace talks in Istanbul. Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War released a statement saying that Russia returned 1,200 bodies, and 'according to the Russian side, the bodies belong to Ukrainian citizens, in particular military personnel.' It was the only tangible achievement of the Istanbul talks, with 1,212 bodies also being returned by Russia earlier this week, with 27 dead soldiers going the other way. The two sides conducted a prisoners of war swap on Thursday, which included badly wounded and gravely ill captives. Their numbers were not disclosed, however.
Euronews
17 hours ago
- Euronews
LGBT+ pride parades held in several of Europe's capitals
Thousands of pride parade attendees took to the streets in Vienna, Warsaw, Rome and Athens on Saturday, waving rainbow flags and holding up signs of protest as they celebrated pride month, while also demanding political and social equality for the LGBTQ+ community in their respective countries. Warsaw's pride parade went through the city centre and headed through the Old Town. The "Equality Parade" began on Saturday afternoon, and was attended by thousands of demonstrators. Under the slogan "Love is the answer", the event's organisers expressed the hope that they could help others to express their LGBTQ+ identity openly and without fear. "We don't want to talk about such matters somewhere underground, we don't want to hide in basements - we come to the surface to talk about it," said Rafał Dembe, president of the Equality Volunteering Foundation at a press conference ahead of the march. During the conference, the organisers said that the demonstration in Warsaw is the largest of its kind in the country. Among the most notable attendees of the parade were mayor of Warsaw Rafał Trzaskowski, who recently found himself on the losing side of the country's presidential election, member of the European Parliament Robert Biedroń and Minister of Equality Katarzyna Kotula. Four days earlier, Kotula submitted a bill to parliament to introduce civil partnerships, including for same-sex couples. Speaking to the crowd at the start of the parade, Trzaskowski said "Remember that I have been saying for many years that together we are building Warsaw, which is an open and tolerant city, where these values are not only appreciated but also promoted." Braving the scorching hot 35 degree weather, thousands of people walked the city of Rome from Piazza della Repubblica to Via Cavour to participate in the Italian capital's pride march. Three motorcyclists with roaring engines kicked off the parade. Right behind them was the leader of the parade, holding a large banner with the word "Outlaw", written on it. The banner is in protest of what organisers see as the conservative incumbent government's lack of support for LGBTQ+ rights. Among those taking part in the demonstration were the spokesperson of the Capitoline parade, Mario Colamarino, and the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri. ''We are here for the rights of all, to have a more inclusive and equal Italy, better than the one we have now. 'Outlaws' is what we are in this country today, we must fight and we must be many," said Colamarino. The event in Rome was held not only to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride, but also to protest the ongoing conflict in Gaza, for which a one-minute silence was held. Many Palestinian flags and banners were waved alongside rainbow flags, as people chanted slogans for free love and equality. Along with house and pop music, the Italian partisan anthem "Bella Ciao" was also sung by the demonstrators. A float satirically depicting Hungarian Prime Miniser Viktor Orban - whose government was last week denied a request to hold a pride march in Budapest - was also rolled out, an initiative by the Italian +Europa party. "Today, more than ever, it is important to attend pride at a time when in the world there are autocracies, illiberal democracies, fundamentalist regimes that attack civil rights and individual freedoms in Hungary, as well as in Russia and Trump's United States, where some words, such as 'gay', are banned on institutional websites", said the party's secretary, Riccardo Magi. 2025 marks the 20th year since the first Athens Pride was held, and this year's slogan is "We Count". This has a double meaning in Greek - the phrase can either mean "we matter", but can also mean to take stock of something. The latter is in reference to recollecting everything that has happened since June 2005, when the first Athens pride parade was held. According to the organisers, this includes joy, such as the pride and liberation of the first years, losses due to hate and homophobic attacks, victories such as same-sex civic union and marriage, but also disappointment such as the stigma that remains, as well as the fight for visibility and rights. "Now, more than ever, the global context shows us that no acquis (law) can be taken for granted. Instead, our rights and our very existence are being challenged every day. The rise of the far right and the normalisation of hate speech in political and media discourse are a threat to all of us. The exclusion of LGBTQ+ refugees and migrants is intensifying, leading to the exclusion of people on the basis of racist, sexist, homophobic and/or transphobic motives," the organisers say on their website. "For all this, our presence in the public space will continue to be our undeniable right, a historical duty and an act of resistance against a public discourse of abuse that seeks to erase us. The struggle for equality is ongoing and remains unabated. We are and will be here to keep them going," the organisers say on their website. Pride month is celebrated in Athens with a variety of cultural events, screenings, performances, parties, shows, panel discussions, workshops and seminars, many of point to the now 20-year history of pride in the Greek capital, with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives also taking centre stage. Revolutionary Guard commander Sardar Esmail Kowsari told local media in an interview closing the Strait of Hormuz "is under consideration, and Iran will make the best decision with determination." "Our hands are wide open when it comes to punishing the enemy, and the military response was only part of our overall response," added Kowsari, who is a member of parliament in addition to his military position. Iran's short- and medium-range missiles would be capable of targeting oil infrastructure platforms, pipelines in the Strait, or even attacking commercial vessels, and surface-to-surface missiles could target tankers or ports along the Gulf. Airstrikes using aircraft and drones could disable navigation or radar equipment at major shipping ports in the region. Unmanned drones like Iran's Shahed models could potentially be used to attack specific shipping lanes or infrastructure in the Strait. Iran could attempt to deploy warships to physically block access to the Strait. In 2012, Iran launched a cyberattack on Saudi Arabia's oil industry, showing its growing capability in this domain. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most strategically vital chokepoints in the world, and any blockade by Iran would pose serious risks for Europe. Blocking the Strait was one of four Iranian responses to the conflict including terrorist acts on mainland Europe which security expert Claude Moniquet cited in an interview with Euronews. It would be 'a disaster for Europe', the former French intelligence office said. Here are some of the reasons why. Roughly 20% of global oil and a significant portion of natural gas pass through the Strait. Europe imports oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Gulf states Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE much of which travels through the Strait. If Iran blocks it, global oil prices would spike, and Europe could face energy shortages, especially in countries dependent on Middle Eastern fuel. A sudden oil price surge would increase inflation, energy costs, and disrupt industries across Europe. Manufacturing, transport, and agriculture sectors would be especially vulnerable. Market reactions and volatility in European stock exchanges could be a knock-on effect. A blockade could trigger military confrontations involving the US, EU navies, and Gulf states, risking a broader regional war. Europe might be drawn into the conflict through NATO obligations or alliances, especially with countries like France or the UK maintaining naval presence in the region. Beyond oil, the Strait is a key route for global shipping. Disruption could delay European imports of raw materials, electronics, and consumer goods, affecting supply chains. Insurance premiums for shipping could spike, raising costs for European businesses and consumers.
