French Leader Marine Le Pen Convicted of Embezzlement, Barred from 2027 Presidential Election

A French court has convicted Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally (RN) party, of embezzlement and banned her from holding public office for five years, effectively derailing her 2027 presidential ambitions. This ruling has caused a significant stir in French politics, as Le Pen was a leading contender for the presidency.

Le Pen, 56, strongly rejected the verdict, calling it politically motivated, and vowed to appeal. She argued that the decision was designed to block her from running and described it as a violation of democratic principles, expressing that millions of French citizens were outraged by the judgment. In a televised interview, she compared the legal actions against her to practices found in authoritarian regimes.

The court sentenced Le Pen to four years in prison, two of which will be served under house arrest and two suspended. However, these penalties won’t take effect until her appeal process concludes. She was also fined €100,000. Although Le Pen’s role as a member of the French National Assembly remains unaffected, she is barred from holding any other public office during her appeal.

The case involves accusations that Le Pen and other RN officials misused more than €4 million in EU funds between 2004 and 2016, intended for parliamentary staff, to pay party employees. The court found Le Pen at the center of this scheme, although it noted she did not personally profit. Her lack of remorse was a significant factor in the court’s decision to impose the office ban.

Le Pen’s allies, including her deputy Jordan Bardella, condemned the ruling as a blow to French democracy. International figures like Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán also expressed support, with Orbán showing solidarity by posting “Je suis Marine.”

This conviction represents a major blow to Le Pen’s political future. While she has run for president before, this would have been her final attempt. Though some political opponents raised concerns about the impact of the decision on democracy, others saw it as politically motivated. Le Pen’s hopes for running in 2027 now depend on the outcome of her appeal, but with the election approaching, time is running out.

In addition to the ban, Le Pen’s party was fined €2 million for the misuse of EU funds, and several other party officials were also convicted. Despite this setback, Le Pen remains determined to continue fighting for her political future, emphasizing that millions of French citizens continue to support her.