Marine Le Pen Barred from 2027 Presidential Race Following Conviction

Le Pen sentenced to five years of ineligibility and four years in prison for embezzling EU funds, igniting political and public divisions in France.

Marine Le Pen has been convicted of embezzling €2.9 million in European Parliament funds, resulting in a five-year ineligibility sentence and a four-year prison term, with two years suspended.
The immediate enforcement of her ineligibility prevents Le Pen from appealing in time to run in the 2027 presidential election, significantly impacting her political future.
Le Pen and her supporters have denounced the ruling as politically motivated, while opponents emphasize the importance of legal accountability and equality before the law.
Jordan Bardella, Le Pen’s political ally, is emerging as a potential candidate for the Rassemblement National in 2027, though Le Pen vows to appeal and remain politically active.
The conviction has sparked widespread reactions domestically and internationally, with critics questioning the judiciary's role in shaping electoral outcomes and its implications for democratic principles.