French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was found guilty of embezzlement by a Paris court on Monday, resulting in a five-year ban from public office. The ruling bars her from running for president in 2027, a significant blow to her campaign. Le Pen’s party, the National Rally, misused millions of euros in European Parliament funds between 2004 and 2016, with Le Pen overseeing a scheme to pay staff members with EU funding meant for lawmakers.
The court sentenced Le Pen to four years in prison, with two suspended. She was fined €100,000. The presiding judge acknowledged that while appeals are possible, the ruling aims to uphold the rule of law and ensure elected officials don’t benefit from special treatment.
Le Pen’s conviction has sparked outrage among hard-right leaders across Europe, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. However, centrist lawmakers have expressed concerns about the impact on French democracy. The verdict could lead to renewed political turmoil, especially if Le Pen decides to lash out at the government or spark protests.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/world/europe/france-marine-le-pen-embezzlement-2027-election-ban.html