Marine Le Pen is best known as the face of the French far right and a three-time presidential hopeful with her sights still squarely set on a shot at France's top job. But it was her work as a member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2017 which was in the spotlight this week at the opening of a landmark trial in Paris.

French prosecutors have accused Le Pen of presiding over an unlawful "system" under which public money destined for EU parliamentary work was diverted to pay staffers focused on national party business. In total, more than 20 people linked to the staunchly anti-immigration, euroskeptic National Rally party are standing trial.

If found guilty, Le Pen could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and fined up to €1 million ($1.1 million). She could also face a yearslong order of ineligibility barring her from public office, which could block her planned path to the Elysee presidential palace in 2027.

Yet the 56-year-old appeared unfazed on her way into court on Monday. "I'm here to lay out our arguments. I'm very serene," she told reporters. "Parliamentary freedom is at stake here. We broke no rules," she added.

The Paris Prosecutor's Office has alleged that Le Pen was one of a number of members of the National Rally, formerly known as the........

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