Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally (RN) and a two-time presidential challenger to Emmanuel Macron, has been convicted of misappropriating public funds and barred from holding public office "with immediate effect," a Paris court ruled on Monday.
The decision also applies to eight RN lawmakers and 12 of their assistants, all found guilty in the same case. Le Pen and 24 others were accused of diverting European Parliament funds meant for parliamentary aides to pay party staff in France between 2004 and 2016, totaling €3 million.
The duration of Le Pen’s ban remains unclear, though prosecutors had sought a five-year prohibition. If upheld, the ruling could prevent her from running in the 2027 presidential election—a scenario she previously called her "political death."
Ahead of the verdict, Le Pen, 56, denied wrongdoing, framing the case as a politically motivated attempt to derail her career. "There are 11 million people who voted for the movement I represent," she said, warning that a conviction could disenfranchise supporters by stripping them of their chosen candidate.
She left the courtroom before the sentencing details were announced, avoiding further comment. The court spent hours reading individual verdicts, with Judge Bénédicte de Perthuis stating, "There was no personal enrichment … but there was the enrichment of a party," in violation of financing laws.
Following a November trial, prosecutors sought a €300,000 fine, up to 10 years in prison, and a five-year office ban for Le Pen. While judges were not bound by these requests, their ruling delivers a major blow to the RN leader, who retains the right to appeal.
"The issue was whether or not the contracts had been executed," the judge emphasized, dismissing claims of political persecution.
Le Pen’s conviction marks a significant setback for France’s far-right movement, which has gained ground in recent elections. The legal battle now shifts to appeals, where her political fate—and that of her party—may ultimately be decided.