Marine Le Pen barred from running for office after conviction
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More news: A French criminal court has banned far-right leader Marine Le Pen from running for office for five years with immediate effect, and has sentenced her to four years’ jail time, two years of which are suspended, on charges of embezzlement. Le Pen was also fined €100,000 ($172,090).
Unless Le Pen successfully appeals the decision in an expedited process, she will not be permitted to stand as a candidate in the 2027 French elections.
Le Pen stormed out of the courtroom before the sentencing was read out.
While the electoral ban will begin immediately, Le Pen’s four-year jail sentence will begin once no further legal recourse, such as an appeal, remains. The politician will not be removed from her current seat in parliament until her mandate ends.
Le Pen protegee and head of Le Pen's Rassemblement National (RN) party, Jordan Bardella said: “Today, it is not only Marine Le Pen who is being unjustly condemned: it is French democracy that is being executed.”
His comments were echoed by Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin who commented that “more and more European capitals are going down the path of trampling democratic norms.”
Far right leaders across Europe have shared their shock at the ruling: Matteo Salvini, Italy’s far-right deputy prime minister posted on X that the decision: “is a declaration of war by Brussels. We will not be intimidated, we will not stop.”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán posted “Je suis Marine!” and Dutch politician Geert Wilders said "I am shocked by the incredibly tough verdict against (Le Pen). I support and believe in her for the full 100 percent and I trust she will win the appeal and become President of France.”
French court finds Marine Le Pen guilty of embezzlement
The news: French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been convicted of embezzling EU funds, potentially barring her from running in the 2027 presidential election.
The numbers: The politician was accused of misusing funds amounting to around €7 million ($12 million) between 2004 and 2016 when she was a member of European Parliament.
Prosecutors had said that Le Pen's punishment should be not just a €300,000 fine and prison term, but also ineligibility from running for public office for five years.
The context: On Monday morning in Paris, Le Pen, along with eight co-defendant Members of European Parliament (MEPs) were found guilty of misappropriating the funds to finance the far-right National Rally (RN) party.
The case has been watched closely across Europe as Le Pen and her RN party are considered favourites to win the 2027 French election.
It is likely that Le Pen will appeal the decision, which will require a new trial to be held, and any prison sentence or fine will be postponed until after the appeal. If the appeal process is sped up and she is cleared in time to stand, she may be able to enter the 2027 presidential race.
The court said that it will deliver sentences later on Monday.
The source: Financial Times
