French far-right leader Marine Le Pen denied violating any rules as she and her National Rally party and two dozen others went on trial on Monday, accused of embezzling European Parliament funds, in a case that has the potential to derail her political ambitions.

Marine Le Pen, the former leader of France's far-right National Rally (RN), has gone on trial in Paris for allegedly embezzling money from the European Parliament.

Marine Le Pen has often posed as the sole voice of the ignored French people — and the enemy of the political establishment of “either the Left or Right.” Yet if mainstream media often lazily label her a “populist,

The stakes are high for Marine Le Pen as she and other officials from the French far-right party National Rally go on trial over accusations of embezzling European Union funds

French presidential contender Marine Le Pen said she won’t elude any questions on the opening day of a Paris trial where she and her National Rally party are accused of diverting millions of euros in European Union funds to build up a platform in France.

Marine Le Pen and others are accused of using European funds for unrelated party expenses. The trial, expected to last two months, comes as her National Rally has gained more political sway.

Arriving at the court in Paris, Le Pen said she remained confident because "we have not violated any political and regulatory rules of the European Parliament" and vowed to present the judges with "extremely serious and extremely solid arguments.