Marine Le Pen convicted of embezzlement, banned from 2027 election; calls it an attack on democracy.

In Short

Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Rally, has been convicted of embezzlement, resulting in a five-year public office ban and a four-year prison sentence, half of which is suspended.

The ruling threatens her candidacy for the 2027 presidential elections unless her appeal succeeds, while her conviction has sparked political debate regarding its implications for French democracy.

Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Rally, has been convicted of embezzlement, resulting in a five-year ban from public office and a four-year prison sentence, half of which is suspended.

The court found she misused €4.4 million in EU funds intended for parliamentary assistants to pay party staff who were not working for the European Parliament.

This ruling eliminates her as a candidate in the 2027 presidential elections unless her appeal is successful. Le Pen had been seen as a frontrunner with President Macron term-limited.

Prison sentence

Judges imposed immediate execution of her disqualification, although her prison sentence remains suspended pending any appeal. The conviction is significant, given Le Pen’s influence in French politics over the last decade, especially her views on immigration and integration.

Le Pen has voiced her belief that the ruling is an attack on democracy, calling the decision unjust while promising to appeal.

Reactions to her conviction have sparked political debate, with her party officials arguing that the ruling impacts French democracy as a whole. Critics have pointed out that Le Pen previously supported similar penalties against others found guilty of financial misconduct.

Her allies, including leaders from Hungary and the US, have drawn parallels to political opposition faced by far-right figures, claiming legal action is being used to undermine their platforms.