A Paris court delivered a highly anticipated verdict in a high-profile case, with the outcome affecting the political future of Marine Le Pen, the leader of the Rassemblement National (RN) party. According to French media, Le Pen will be barred from running in the next presidential election in France, as she has been disqualified from political activity for five years.
In addition, Le Pen was sentenced to wear an electronic ankle tag for two years, similar to a previous case involving Nicolas Sarkozy. The party leader was also sentenced to a four-year prison term, with two years suspended and a fine of €100,000.
The RN party was also fined €2 million, with €1 million of that amount to be paid immediately and the remaining €1 million to be seized as part of the investigation. Twenty-three other defendants received prison sentences ranging from six months to four years, with the highest sentence being handed down to Le Pen.
One defendant was acquitted and only Le Pen’s sentence included a non-voting ban, which will be suspended if she does not reoffend.
The judge described Le Pen as the “heart of a plan” to misappropriate EU funds to pay party workers. Political analyst Pascal Perrineau commented that the verdict now shows that the increased laws against corruption have transformed judges into a voice in the political debate.
Le Pen left the courtroom before the verdict was delivered and the decision effectively ends her candidacy for the French presidency in the 2027 election.
Le Pen can challenge the immediate ban on her candidacy, but it would only be lifted if a formal appeal is granted before the election. She can, however, continue to hold her seat in the French National Assembly until the end of her term. More information will be provided shortly.