Paris: In a significant legal setback for France’s far-right leader Marine Le Pen, a court has ruled against her for misusing European Union funds to finance her National Rally (RN) party. As a result, she has been barred from running for public office, effectively preventing her from contesting the 2027 presidential elections.
Le Pen, who stormed out of the courtroom before the ruling was finalized, has been found guilty of embezzling EU funds intended for parliamentary assistants. The court determined that these funds were instead used to support the operations of the RN party.
The case, which also implicated over 20 senior party members, accused Le Pen of hiring aides who worked for RN rather than performing official duties in the European Parliament. Prosecutors had initially sought a three-year prison sentence, a €300,000 fine, and a five-year ban from holding public office.
The verdict imposes a four-year prison sentence on Le Pen, with two years suspended. The remaining two years can be served under electronic monitoring rather than in custody. Additionally, she has been fined €100,000.
Le Pen is expected to appeal the ruling, delaying its immediate enforcement.
