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2mo ago

Marine Le Pen Convicted of Embezzlement, Banned From Public Office

The French far-right leader faces a four-year prison sentence and a five-year political ban, with her appeal set for mid-2026.

FILE - French far-right leader Marine Le Pen at the National Assembly, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
FILE - Members of European Parliament enter the plenary chamber as they prepare to vote at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, July 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias, File)
FILE -Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage speaks during a media conference at the European Parliament in Brussels, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)
FILE - Leader of the French far-right National Rally Marine Le Pen, left, and Jordan Bardella, lead candidate of the party for the upcoming European election, right, are seen during a political meeting on June 2, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla, File)

Overview

  • Marine Le Pen has been convicted of embezzling €5 million in EU funds and sentenced to four years in prison, with two years suspended, and a five-year ban from public office.
  • The court found Le Pen guilty of using EU funds to pay party employees in France under the guise of parliamentary assistants, a violation of European Parliament rules.
  • Le Pen has appealed the ruling, with an expedited hearing scheduled for mid-2026, which could determine her eligibility for the 2027 presidential race.
  • The conviction has intensified debates about judicial influence in politics, with far-right leaders across Europe framing the ruling as politically motivated.
  • Jordan Bardella, the 29-year-old president of the National Rally, is seen as a potential successor for the 2027 elections but faces skepticism over his youth and experience.