A French court finds Marine Le Pen guilty of embezzling EU funds
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been barred from holding political office for five years after being convicted of embezzling European Union funds—a politically explosive verdict that has effectively ended her hopes of a presidential run in 2027.
A Paris court sentenced Le Pen, who had been the frontrunner for the next election, to four years in prison, with two years suspended. The sentence is to be served under house arrest. She was also fined €100,000 ($108,000). Her lawyer confirmed that she plans to appeal the ruling.
Le Pen’s party, National Rally (RN), was fined €2 million in connection with the €4.1 million it was accused of embezzling.
Presiding judge Bénédicte de Perthuis described Le Pen’s actions as a “serious and lasting attack on the rules of democratic life in Europe, but especially in France.” She added that the immediate political ban was justified due to the “democratic public unrest” that could result from electing someone convicted of embezzlement.
Le Pen called the ruling a “political decision” during a Monday evening interview on French TV network TF1. She argued that “the rule of law was completely violated,” claiming her right to “effective recourse” under the European Convention on Human Rights had been denied.
U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the verdict Monday, calling it a “very big deal.”
“She was banned from running for five years and she’s the leading candidate — that sounds like this country,” Trump said from the Oval Office.
The ruling has also triggered political backlash and signs of public unrest. Jordan Bardella, Le Pen’s protégé and successor as president of National Rally, launched a petition in support of her. He urged the French public to join a “popular and peaceful mobilization” to demonstrate that “the will of the people is stronger.”
Bardella claimed the ruling was not just an attack on Le Pen, but on French democracy itself.
Marion Maréchal, Le Pen’s niece and a Member of the European Parliament representing a rival far-right party, echoed that sentiment.
“She led our side on the path to victory. This is her only guilt, and that is why she is condemned,” Maréchal said.
Le Pen appeared calm and composed when she arrived at the courthouse Monday, greeting her supporters. But she became visibly agitated as the judge spent over an hour outlining the details of the embezzlement case, shaking her head in disbelief.
“The question therefore arises in a singular way in this criminal case which makes its decision ‘in the name of the French people.’ The court must not ignore the requirement to seek a social consensus,” Judge de Perthuis said.