France’s far-right leader Marine Le Pen barred from running for office for 5 years after graft conviction | World News

France’s far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been sentenced to four years in prison, with two years suspended, and barred from holding public office for five years after being found guilty of embezzlement on Monday in a seismic development that could reshape France’s political future. A Paris court ruled that Le Pen and her National Rally (RN) party had misappropriated over 4 million euros ($4.33 million) from European Parliament funds to pay France-based staff.
The verdict, delivered Judge Benedicte de Perthuis, stated that Le Pen was “at the heart” of the scheme. While Le Pen intends to appeal, the “provisional execution” clause attached to the judgment means her ban from public office will remain in effect unless an appeal overturns the decision before the 2027 presidential election, where she was a leading contender in opinion polls.
Le Pen, her party and two dozen party figures were accused of diverting more than 4 million euros ($4.33 million) of European Parliament funds to pay France-based staff. The defendants had argued the money was used legitimately and that the allegations had defined too narrowly what a parliamentary assant does.
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Le Pen is also required to pay a 100,000 euro fine.
To avoid the penalties Le Pen will most likely appeal. However, the “provisional execution” measure, barring her from office, will only be lifted if any appeal is upheld before the election.
Who is Marine Le Pen?
Le Pen, the party chief of the National Rally (RN) has been at the helm of the French right-wing ecosystem in recent years.
She emerged as a prominent figure in French politics, building her supporter base on popul narratives and promises of anti-immigrant policies.Story continues below this ad
Her party, formerly the National Front, was founded her father Jean Marine Le Pen in 1972, had a reputation for being anti-Semitic. But following her election defeat in 2017 with 33 per cent votes, she softened her stance and rebranded it to the National Rally.
Since then, she has engaged in mainstream discourses while building a voter base on the lines of identity politics in light of rising immigration concerns across the European Union. From for party’s traditional anti-Semitic stance, she moved to an anti-Muslim stance targeting immigrants, promising to ban ahead of the 2022 presidential race.
Her campaigns gained further traction amid growing public resentment towards President Emmanuel Macron over increasing cost of living in 2022, earning her over 41 per cent of the vote share in the second round of the 2022 presidential election.
Political analyst Arnaud Benedetti, who has written a book on the RN, said the ban on Le Pen would reverberate across parties and through the electorate.Story continues below this ad
The future of National Rally
Le Pen’s right-hand man, party president Jordan Bardella, 29, who has expanded the RN’s appeal among younger voters, could be the party’s de facto candidate for the race.
However, experts say it’s unclear whether he has the experience to win over the broader electorate to secure a victory.