In a landmark ruling, Marine Le Pen, leader of France's far-right National Rally (RN) party, has been convicted of embezzling European Parliament funds. The Paris court sentenced her to four years in prison, with two years suspended, and imposed a five-year ban on seeking public office, effectively barring her from participating in the 2027 presidential elections.
The court found that Le Pen and several party members misappropriated approximately €4.4 million in EU funds intended for parliamentary assistants, instead using the money to pay RN staff not involved in parliamentary work. This verdict follows allegations that spanned from 2004 to 2016, accusing the RN of creating fake jobs within the European Parliament.
Le Pen has denounced the ruling as politically motivated and plans to appeal. Despite the appeal, the ban on holding public office takes immediate effect, posing a significant challenge to her political future and the trajectory of the RN.
The conviction has elicited a global response, particularly among nationalist figures who view the decision as an attempt to sideline populist leaders. Supporters argue that the timing and severity of the ruling are indicative of a politically charged effort to weaken the far-right movement in France.
In the wake of Le Pen's conviction, attention has turned to potential successors within the RN. Jordan Bardella, the party's current president and a Member of the European Parliament, is seen as a leading candidate to assume leadership. Bardella's youth and political acumen position him as a figure capable of navigating the party through this tumultuous period.
This development marks a significant shift in the French political landscape, potentially reshaping the dynamics of the upcoming 2027 presidential election and altering the course of the far-right movement in France.