French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been convicted of embezzling European Union funds and faces a five-year ban from politics after a court ruling that could upend the 2027 presidential election. The verdict, which barred her from running for public office, came as a surprise to many and marks a significant blow to her National Rally party.
Le Pen was accused of misusing EU funds to pay assistants who did work on party-related tasks. Prosecutors argued that she and her party had engaged in systematic fraud, but Le Pen maintained that the practice was common among European parties and harmless. The court ultimately found her guilty and sentenced her to a five-year ban from politics.
The ruling is likely to fuel criticism of France from Washington and other countries, with some drawing comparisons between Le Pen’s case and those of former US President Donald Trump. Trump has been impeached twice and faced charges including election interference and improper handling of classified documents.
Le Pen’s party will still have significant sway in the French legislature despite her ban, but it remains to be seen how this will affect their chances in the 2027 presidential election. The National Rally is not the only party accused of misusing EU funds; a centrist party called Democratic Movement was also accused of similar wrongdoing.
The ruling comes at a time of great political turmoil in France, which has been plagued by hung parliaments and short-lived governments. Le Pen’s trial and conviction have further exacerbated divisions within the country, with many far-right figures across Europe expressing support for her despite her ban from politics.
Experts say that the Trump administration may take an interest in Le Pen’s case due to her alignment with MAGA values. However, it remains unclear whether this would help or hurt her chances in the 2027 presidential election.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/03/31/france-marine-le-pen-embezzlement-guilty-verdict