French criminal prosecutors have opened an investigation into “illegal financing” by Marine Le Pen and her far-Right National Rally party, writes The Standard.

It followed them being beaten into third place in parliamentary elections held over the weekend. Judicial sources in Paris on Tuesday confirmed that the new criminal enquiry related to Ms Le Pen’s attempt to become President of France in 2022. “A judicial investigation was opened after a report to the courts from the National Commission for Campaign Accounts and Political Financing”, - said one.

The enquiry is believed to be related to the RN (for Rassemblement National – French for National Rally) allegedly stealing taxpayer-generated funds from the European Parliament.

Ms Le Pen is already facing up to 10 years in prison and a ban on standing for elected office if she is found guilty following an embezzlement trial which opens in Paris in September.

They say there is compelling evidence that the 55-year-old illegally accessed some EUR 620,000 on behalf of her party. She will appear in the dock with 12 other members of the RN, which was previously called the National Front.