PARIS — French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been banned from running for public office for five years after a court convicted her of embezzling European Union funds, effectively disqualifying her from the 2027 presidential race.
The ruling marks a significant setback for Le Pen, the chief of the National Rally (RN) party and a prominent figure in European far-right politics. She had been a leading contender for the 2027 election, consistently polling as a front-runner.
The court sentenced Le Pen to four years in prison—two years suspended and two to be served under home detention—and imposed a fine of 100,000 euros ($108,200). Her five-year ban from office took immediate effect under a provisional execution measure, though her lawyer confirmed she would appeal. The prison sentence and fine are suspended pending the outcome of the appeal, a process that could take months or years.
RN President Jordan Bardella condemned the ruling, calling it an attack on democracy. “Today, it is not only Marine Le Pen who was unjustly convicted; it was French democracy that was killed,” Bardella said.
Le Pen, who has run for president three times and previously stated 2027 would be her final bid, now depends on an appeals judge overturning the ruling before the election.
Le Pen’s allies in France and far-right leaders from Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands criticized the ruling as judicial overreach. Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, head of the far-right League, voiced his support: “We will not be intimidated, we will not stop: full steam ahead, my friend!”
Le Pen left the Paris courtroom before Judge Benedicte de Perthuis delivered the verdict. She is expected to address the ruling in a televised interview on TF1 later Monday.
The court found Le Pen and two dozen RN members guilty of diverting more than 4 million euros ($4.33 million) of EU funds. Though the defendants were not accused of personal enrichment, the court determined the funds were misused to benefit the party. Judge de Perthuis stated that Le Pen was “at the heart” of the scheme, adding that the misuse was intentional and not due to administrative errors.
Le Pen’s supporters argue the prosecution is politically motivated, with the case casting a shadow over the party’s future. Bardella is now poised to lead the RN in the 2027 race, but analysts question whether he can command broad voter support.
Political analyst Arnaud Benedetti called the ruling a “seismic political event” that will reshape French politics. He expressed doubts about Bardella’s ability to replicate Le Pen’s electoral success, saying, “I am not sure Jordan Bardella’s political proposition is mature enough to compete credibly in the presidential election.”
The court also convicted eight former RN lawmakers and 12 parliamentary assistants on similar charges.
