The leader of France’s far-right National Rally party, Marine Le Pen, has been found guilty of embezzling EU funds and barred from running for political office in France for five years. However, her ban from public office will remain in effect despite her appeal.
Le Pen was fined €100,000 and received a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended and the other two served with an electronic bracelet. The fine and part of the sentence have been put on hold until the appeals process is exhausted.
The unusual aspect of Le Pen’s case lies in the “executed provisionally” status of her ban from public office, which comes into force immediately despite her appeal. This decision has drawn scepticism across the political spectrum, including Prime Minister François Bayrou, who described it as “troubled.”
Experts say that immediate public office bans are rare in France and Europe. According to data, only 3.9% of “ineligibility” sentences handed out in 2023 were enforced immediately. The French Ministry of Justice reported 16,364 such sentences in 2023.
The proportion of cases where the sentence is applied provisionally has consistently been low. In Le Pen’s case, it was due to her denial of the offence’s significance. Experts argue that this decision was unusual and likely based on a desire to show severity.
In contrast, other European countries follow the concept of “suspensive appeal,” meaning the sentence does not apply as long as it is under appeal. The French legal provision allowing Le Pen’s ban to be enforced immediately is an outlier in Europe.
Le Pen may still run for president in 2027 if her appeal is successful and decided in time. A Paris appeals court will decide on her case by summer 2026, keeping her hopes alive. If the appeals court clears her of any wrongdoing, Le Pen could enter the presidential race in time, potentially limiting pressure to name a replacement candidate.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/04/08/fact-check-is-le-pens-ban-from-public-office-an-anomaly-in-france-and-europe