Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Rally (RN) party, was convicted Monday of embezzling European Union funds. She received a five-year ban from holding public office, a
penalty that effectively removes her from the 2027 presidential race unless she successfully appeals the ruling.
The verdict is a major blow to Le Pen, who has been considered a front-runner in the upcoming election and has spent years reshaping her party’s image to appeal to a broader electorate.
Le Pen, along with the RN and about two dozen party members, was found guilty of misusing over €4 million ($4.33 million) in EU funds by channeling them into salaries for party staff in France. The defense argued the funds were used appropriately and that the case hinged on an overly narrow interpretation of the role of EU parliamentary assistants.
Presiding Judge Benedicte de Perthuis stated that Le Pen was “at the heart” of the operation.
Alongside the ban, Le Pen was sentenced to four years in prison—two of which are suspended—and fined €100,000. Though she is likely to appeal, and her prison sentence and fine are on hold during that process, the ineligibility ruling takes effect immediately under a “provisional execution” clause requested by prosecutors. She will retain her seat in parliament until the end of her current term.
This development has sparked significant political debate in France, particularly around judicial influence in politics.
Since her defeat to Emmanuel Macron in 2017, Le Pen has worked to soften her image and bring her party into the political mainstream. Today, the RN is the largest single party in France’s National Assembly.
Political analyst Arnaud Benedetti described the ruling as a turning point in French politics. “This is a seismic political event,” he said. “It’s going to reshuffle the pack, especially on the right.”
With Le Pen sidelined, attention now turns to RN President Jordan Bardella, 29, widely seen as her protégé and potential 2027 candidate. While Bardella has gained traction among younger voters, experts question whether he has the political experience and broader appeal needed to win a national election.
Appeals in France can take months or even years, leaving the RN's future—and Le Pen’s political fate—in uncertainty as 2027 approaches. Photo by Rémi Noyon, Wikimedia commons.