Marine Le Pen allies on trial for alleged fraud during 2012 election

Senior party figures accused of profiting from the state by overcharging for election kits

Several allies and close friends of the French far-right leader Marine Le Pen are due to go on trial in Paris accused of fraud during election campaigns in 2012.

The seven defendants including senior figures in Le Pen's party, the Front National, which has since been renamed National Rally, will appear in court on Wednesday accused of taking part in a fraudulent scheme to overcharge candidates for party election leaflets.