Overview

• Marine Le Pen has been convicted of embezzling €2.9 million in EU funds, receiving a four-year prison sentence (two under electronic monitoring) and five years of ineligibility with immediate effect.
• The Paris Court of Appeal has committed to reviewing her case by summer 2026, leaving her participation in the 2027 presidential election uncertain.
• Le Pen and the Rassemblement National have launched a public campaign, claiming a surge of 20,000 new members and 500,000 petition signatures in protest of the ruling.
• The judiciary defended the immediate execution of her ineligibility, citing the systemic nature of the offenses and potential risks to democratic integrity.
• Public opinion is sharply divided, with 61% of French citizens supporting the conviction, while RN supporters overwhelmingly view it as a politically motivated attack.