Crystabel Ukwuegbu
A French court has ruled that far-right leader Marine Le Pen is ineligible to run for public office for five years due to embezzlement, delivering a severe blow to her political ambitions, including a potential 2027 presidential bid.
Although Le Pen has the option to appeal, the ruling takes effect immediately, meaning she cannot participate in elections while the appeal process is ongoing.
Court Ruling and Reaction
Le Pen left the Paris courthouse without speaking to the press. During the hearing, she remained composed but became visibly unsettled as the judge elaborated on the ruling. She was found guilty of misusing European Parliament funds for party-related expenses. The court also convicted eight other past or present members of her party who had served as European lawmakers.
While Le Pen and her co-defendants could face prison sentences of up to ten years, they maintain their innocence and can seek another trial through an appeal.
Implications for Le Pen’s Political Future
This ruling significantly impacts Le Pen’s chances of running for president in 2027—a scenario she has described as political sabotage. In addition to barring her from office, the court found that her party had improperly used European Union funds over several years. While the judgment did not accuse Le Pen or her associates of personal enrichment, it labeled the misuse of funds as a deceptive act against both the European Parliament and the electorate.
The charges stem from an investigation into the National Rally (formerly the National Front), which allegedly misallocated EU funds intended for parliamentary assistants between 2004 and 2016. Despite the court’s ruling, Le Pen and her party members insist they have done nothing wrong.
Le Pen’s Political Standing
Having finished second to President Emmanuel Macron in both the 2017 and 2022 elections, Le Pen has been a dominant figure in French politics, with her party gaining more support in recent years. During her trial in late 2024, she argued that disqualifying her from the race would silence millions of voters who support her movement.
Should Le Pen remain unable to run, her likely successor would be Jordan Bardella, the 29-year-old politician who took over as leader of the National Rally in 2021.
The case revealed that European Parliament funds were used to pay for Le Pen’s bodyguard—who previously worked for her father—as well as her personal assistant. Prosecutors had recommended a two-year prison sentence and a five-year ban from public office, alleging the case was about more than just financial misconduct.
Le Pen, however, claims the charges are politically motivated, designed to eliminate her from the presidential race.
