French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been found guilty of embezzling European Union funds and has been banned from holding any public office for five years, according to a ruling from a Paris court on Monday.
The court imposed a four-year jail sentence on Le Pen, two of which were suspended. She will serve the remaining two years with an electronic tag rather than in custody. In addition, the National Rally (RN), the party led by Le Pen, was fined 2 million euros ($2.16 million).
The charges stemmed from the misuse of over 3 million euros ($3.3 million) in EU funds allocated for staffing costs in the European Parliament. The funds were diverted to pay members of Le Pen’s political party, a violation that led to widespread criticism of the far-right leader.
The court’s ruling has significant political consequences, as it bars Le Pen from participating in upcoming elections, including the 2027 French presidential race, where she was a frontrunner in recent polls. Le Pen’s legal team plans to appeal the verdict, with her lawyer, Rodolphe Bosselut, seeking a hearing before the 2027 election.
Le Pen has described the court’s decision as politically motivated, claiming that it was an attempt to block her from running in the next election. In an interview with French television channel TF1, she argued that the millions of French citizens who support her cause are outraged by the ruling, which she sees as a violation of the rule of law.
Her party and supporters quickly rallied behind her, calling the verdict unjust and politically biased. Jordan Bardella, President of RN, condemned the ruling, stating that French democracy had been “executed” with the unjust verdict. Le Pen’s allies argue that the case is a politically charged effort to undermine her and her party’s growing influence in France’s political landscape.
The court’s decision has also drawn international attention, with Russian authorities criticizing the verdict, claiming that European capitals are increasingly violating democratic norms. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini voiced their support for Le Pen, while other far-right leaders, such as Dutch politician Geert Wilders, expressed confidence that Le Pen would win her appeal.
In contrast, political figures in France, including former President François Hollande, have defended the French judiciary, emphasizing the importance of respecting its independence. Hollande stated that the rule of law applies to all, regardless of political position.
The case has highlighted concerns over the integrity of European Parliament finances, with MEP Daniel Freund pointing out that the case against Le Pen is one of the largest fraud cases in the institution’s history.
As the appeal process begins, the decision is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the political dynamics within France, particularly in relation to the upcoming presidential election.
