Marine Le Pen, the prominent leader of the right-wing National Rally party, was convicted today of embezzling European Union funds. A Paris court sentenced her to four years in prison, with two years suspended, and imposed a five-year ban on seeking public office, derailing her ambitions to run for the French presidency in 2027.
The ruling has sparked outrage among her supporters and drawn sharp reactions from European political allies.
The verdict concludes a high-profile trial scrutinising Le Pen and several associates within her party for allegedly misusing EU parliamentary funds. Prosecutors accused the National Rally of diverting money intended for European Parliament assistants to pay party staff in France, a charge Le Pen has consistently denied.
The court’s decision included a €100,000 fine, and Le Pen will serve the unsuspended portion of her sentence under home detention with electronic monitoring. The ban from public office takes effect immediately, though she has vowed to appeal.
Speaking to reporters outside the courtroom, Le Pen condemned the ruling as a “political assassination” orchestrated by her adversaries. “This is not justice; it is a revenge by the establishment against the will of the people,” she declared, her voice steady but defiant.
She accused French authorities and the judiciary of bowing to pressure from Brussels, framing the verdict as an attack on national sovereignty. “They fear the voice of the French people, and they will stop at nothing to silence it,” she added, promising a swift appeal.
The reaction from Le Pen’s allies was swift and forceful. Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally, called for a “peaceful mobilization” of supporters, decrying what he termed a “dictatorship of judges.”
In Italy, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini labeled the verdict “a declaration of war by Brussels,” suggesting it was part of a broader campaign to suppress populist movements across Europe. “The European elites are terrified of leaders who speak for their people,” Salvini said.
Le Pen’s legal troubles stem from a years-long investigation into the National Rally’s financial practices. The case centered on allegations that the party misused approximately €3 million in EU funds between 2004 and 2017. Prosecutors argued that the misappropriation constituted a “democratic bypass,” deceiving voters and undermining the integrity of EU institutions.
Le Pen’s defense, led by attorney Philippe De Veulle, countered that the charges were politically motivated, a retaliation for her outspoken criticism of the EU and French President Emmanuel Macron.
The sentencing significantly escalates Le Pen’s ongoing battles with the French judiciary. Earlier in the day, as the court deliberated, she took to social media to rally her base, warning that “a somber day for our country and our democracy” was imminent. Following the verdict, posts on X reflected a mix of fury and resolve among her supporters, with many echoing her claims of judicial overreach.
Despite the conviction, Le Pen remains a towering figure in French politics. Having led the National Rally to unprecedented electoral gains in recent years, she has positioned herself as a champion of French nationalism and a fierce critic of immigration and globalization. Unless overturned on appeal, her exclusion from the 2027 presidential race could reshape the country’s political future, potentially opening the door for other far-right contenders like Bardella.
As night fell in Paris, small groups of National Rally supporters gathered near the courthouse, waving French flags and chanting slogans in solidarity with their leader. Le Pen appeared on French television hours after the ruling, reiterating her refusal to quit politics. “This is not the end,” she insisted. “The fight continues, and the people will have their say.”
Sources
- BBC: Marine Le Pen attacks five-year ban from running for public office as ’political decision’
- ANSA: Brussels has declared war on Le Pen says Salvini
- Reuters: France’s Le Pen convicted of graft, barred from running for president in 2027
- Fox News: French right-wing leader Marine Le Pen found guilty of embezzling public funds, barred from running for office
- RT: Le Pen sentence a ‘declaration of war by Brussels’ – Italian deputy PM
- RT: French presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen sentenced to jail: Live Updates