In a stunning legal and political blow, far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been sentenced to a five-year ban on holding public office and handed a four-year prison term — to be served under electronic surveillance — over a long-running case involving misuse of European Parliament funds.
The Paris court ruled that Le Pen and eight other members of her National Rally (RN) party had embezzled European funds by falsely claiming that party workers were acting as parliamentary assistants in Brussels, when in fact they were working for the RN in France. The scheme, which involved €2.9 million in misappropriated funds, also saw 12 assistants convicted for concealing a crime.
While Le Pen denies any wrongdoing, the court ordered the political bans to come into effect immediately, regardless of any appeal. In its ruling, the court cited the “risk of reoffending” and potential “major disturbance of public order” if Le Pen were allowed to stand in the upcoming 2027 presidential election.
Le Pen’s lawyer, Rodolphe Bosselut, said she will appeal the conviction, calling the sentence “a blow to democracy.” Party spokesperson Laurent Jacobelli said Le Pen is in a “fighting mood.”
The verdict comes as Le Pen’s RN party leads French parliamentary polls and had positioned her as the frontrunner in the 2027 race, largely fueled by discontent over immigration and the cost of living. Her exclusion from the race now casts uncertainty over the French political landscape.
Despite her conviction, even some political opponents voiced discomfort over her exclusion from the ballot. Thierry Breton, France’s former EU Commissioner, warned against denying Le Pen’s supporters their democratic representation, stating: “I would be very upset... if she were unable to run.”
Prosecutors argued that her leadership intensified the misuse of European funds, as the RN used the full €21,000 monthly parliamentary allowance for "fictitious assistants" to support party operations at home — effectively shifting campaign costs to the EU.
This legal setback may not be the final word. But unless her appeal succeeds, Marine Le Pen's presidential ambitions appear to be derailed — and France’s far-right now faces a leadership and strategic crossroads.
The Paris court ruled that Le Pen and eight other members of her National Rally (RN) party had embezzled European funds by falsely claiming that party workers were acting as parliamentary assistants in Brussels, when in fact they were working for the RN in France. The scheme, which involved €2.9 million in misappropriated funds, also saw 12 assistants convicted for concealing a crime.
While Le Pen denies any wrongdoing, the court ordered the political bans to come into effect immediately, regardless of any appeal. In its ruling, the court cited the “risk of reoffending” and potential “major disturbance of public order” if Le Pen were allowed to stand in the upcoming 2027 presidential election.
Le Pen’s lawyer, Rodolphe Bosselut, said she will appeal the conviction, calling the sentence “a blow to democracy.” Party spokesperson Laurent Jacobelli said Le Pen is in a “fighting mood.”
The verdict comes as Le Pen’s RN party leads French parliamentary polls and had positioned her as the frontrunner in the 2027 race, largely fueled by discontent over immigration and the cost of living. Her exclusion from the race now casts uncertainty over the French political landscape.
Global and Domestic Fallout
The verdict has triggered a strong response from Le Pen’s allies and international partners:- Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán posted “Je suis Marine” in support.
- The Kremlin accused European governments of “violating democratic norms.”
- Jordan Bardella, 29-year-old RN party leader and Le Pen’s protégé, declared French democracy had been “executed” by the verdict.
Despite her conviction, even some political opponents voiced discomfort over her exclusion from the ballot. Thierry Breton, France’s former EU Commissioner, warned against denying Le Pen’s supporters their democratic representation, stating: “I would be very upset... if she were unable to run.”
Background on the Case
The allegations stretch back to when Le Pen took control of the then-National Front in 2011 and rebranded it as the National Rally, launching a strategy of "dédiabolisation" — or “de-demonisation” — to broaden the party’s appeal.Prosecutors argued that her leadership intensified the misuse of European funds, as the RN used the full €21,000 monthly parliamentary allowance for "fictitious assistants" to support party operations at home — effectively shifting campaign costs to the EU.
This legal setback may not be the final word. But unless her appeal succeeds, Marine Le Pen's presidential ambitions appear to be derailed — and France’s far-right now faces a leadership and strategic crossroads.
