France’s far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been barred from seeking public office for five years after being found guilty of embezzling European Union funds. The ruling, which includes a €100,000 fine and a four-year prison sentence, two of which may be served under house arrest, eliminates her from the 2027 French presidential race, where she was considered a leading contender.
The court ruled that Le Pen and 20 other members of her National Rally (RN) party misused €2.9 million in EU funds to pay RN party staff instead of European Parliament aides. The judge stated that Le Pen played a central role in the scheme, which spanned over a decade. Le Pen has denied any wrongdoing, calling the verdict politically motivated and comparing it to legal challenges faced by other populist leaders like Donald Trump.
Her conviction has drawn mixed reactions. Supporters, including Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Italy’s Matteo Salvini, have condemned the ruling, while some of her political opponents, such as Jean-Luc Mélenchon of France Unbowed and Laurent Wauquiez of the Republicans, have expressed concern that the decision could undermine democratic processes.
Le Pen is expected to appeal, but the ban takes effect immediately, reshaping France’s political landscape and leaving her party’s leadership uncertain ahead of the next presidential election.
