France's Marine Le Pen Found Guilty Of Embezzling EU Funds

France’s Marine Le Pen Found Guilty Of Embezzling EU Funds

France’s Marine Le Pen has been convicted of misappropriating European Union funds to fund her far-right National Rally (RN) party.

This is a case that could exclude her from running in the 2027 presidential election.

Le Pen was accused, along with over 20 other top party leaders, of recruiting staffers who worked for her RN party rather than the European Parliament, which paid them.

Last year, prosecutors recommended that Le Pen face not just a €300,000 (£250,000) fine and prison term, but also a five-year ban from competing for public office.

The leader of France’s far-right National Rally party, Marine Le Pen, has been given four years in jail and barred from running for office for five years for embezzling EU funds, a punishment that will keep her out of the next presidential election. pic.twitter.com/fjd93grtVt
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 31, 2025

Crucially, he stated that the ineligibility should take effect immediately, rather than being suspended for appeal.

The judge has yet to determine the sentencing.

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Judges could also opt not to impose automatic ineligibility with her conviction, allowing her to run again in 2027 if an appeal is granted.

The court might potentially shorten her automatic ineligibility period, say one year, allowing her to run.

Le Pen denied committing “the slightest irregularity” during her trial last year.

BREAKING: A French judge has ruled that far-right leader Marine Le Pen is barred from running for public office.

Sky's @adamparsons has the all details.https://t.co/yuBsSdtKeb

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— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 31, 2025