(MENAFN) The General Court of the European Union in Luxembourg has ruled that Marine Le Pen and her two sisters must return more than €300,000 (approximately $350,000) to the European Union. According to reports, the amount had been improperly received by their father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, during his tenure as a Member of the European Parliament.

Back in 2024, EU authorities alleged that Jean-Marie Le Pen had misused EU funds by submitting personal expenses as official costs. He challenged the claim, but after his death in January, his daughters continued the legal process as his heirs.

Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of a right-wing political movement and a long-standing opponent of European integration, held his MEP seat from 1984 until 2019. For decades, his stances on topics like national sovereignty and immigration stood in sharp contrast to mainstream French politics, though many of these positions have since gained wider traction across Europe.

This court decision follows closely on the heels of a separate case involving his daughter, Marine Le Pen. She was recently found guilty of misusing EU funds, receiving a sentence that includes prison time, around $116,000 USD fine, and a five-year ban from holding public office. Despite denying any wrongdoing, she has filed an appeal.

A final ruling on her case is expected by the summer of 2026. The outcome could significantly impact her chances of running in the 2027 presidential election. In the previous vote held in 2022, she advanced to the second round and secured over 42% of the popular vote, ultimately losing to Emmanuel Macron, who won with 58%.

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