The political landscape in France was shaken when Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right National Rally (RN), was found guilty of embezzling European parliament funds. The ruling, which includes a five-year ban from running for public office, immediately disqualifies her from the 2027 presidential race.
Le Pen, who has long been a dominant force in French politics and a leading opponent of Emmanuel Macron, now faces an uncertain future as her party scrambles to find a new candidate.
A Shocking Verdict And Political Turmoil
Marine Le Pen’s conviction has sent shockwaves through France, with reactions ranging from outrage among her supporters to a sense of justice among her critics.
The court found her and 24 other RN members guilty of misusing European Union funds meant for parliamentary assistants, diverting them instead to pay party workers in France. This fraudulent scheme, spanning from 2004 to 2016, resulted in an estimated loss of €4.5 million to European taxpayers.
The court sentenced Le Pen to four years in prison, though two years are suspended, while the remaining two will be served under electronic surveillance rather than in a traditional prison. Additionally, she was fined €100,000, though neither the prison term nor the fine will take effect until her appeals are exhausted—a process that could take years.
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Le Pen showed little reaction as the verdict was announced but became visibly agitated when the court described how her party had illegally diverted European funds. She abruptly left the courtroom before her sentence was fully read. Her lawyer, Rodolphe Bosselut, called the ruling a “blow to democracy,” while RN President Jordan Bardella described it as an “attack on the electoral process.”
Reactions From Political Circles And The Public
The court’s decision has sparked heated debate in France and beyond. The National Rally has condemned the ruling as an attempt to undermine their electoral prospects. Bardella, who is seen as a potential replacement for Le Pen in the 2027 race, declared, “Today, it is not only Marine Le Pen who was unjustly condemned; it is French democracy that was killed.”
Le Pen’s niece, Marion Maréchal, also criticized the court, suggesting that the judges saw themselves as “above the people.” Other right-wing figures, including the Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, expressed solidarity with Le Pen. Orbán even posted a message stating, “I am Marine.”
On the other side of the political spectrum, some have welcomed the verdict, emphasizing the importance of holding politicians accountable. The French Socialist Party reaffirmed the need to respect the independence of the judiciary, while some centrist and left-wing politicians argued that Le Pen’s conviction is a necessary step in maintaining integrity within European institutions.
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However, some conservative politicians, including François-Xavier Bellamy of Les Républicains, warned that the severity of the sentence could fuel distrust in the legal system. “Whatever you think of the RN and this case, today is a dark day for French democracy,” he remarked.
The Future Of The National Rally And The 2027 Elections
Le Pen’s disqualification leaves the National Rally with a major leadership vacuum ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The party, which has steadily grown in influence, was hoping that Le Pen would finally clinch the presidency after three previous failed attempts. Now, the RN must quickly decide on a new candidate.
Jordan Bardella, who became RN president at just 27 years old, is the most likely successor. However, despite his popularity among party supporters, he is relatively inexperienced compared to Le Pen.
His ability to unite the party and maintain its electoral momentum remains uncertain. Other potential candidates include Louis Aliot, an RN vice president, and Sébastien Chenu, a party spokesperson.
The verdict also raises questions about the broader implications for the far-right in France. Le Pen had been working to soften the party’s image and distance it from its more extreme roots, making it more appealing to mainstream voters.
With her legal troubles overshadowing the party’s future, it is unclear whether her efforts will have a lasting impact or if RN will struggle to maintain its current level of support.
Despite the conviction, Le Pen retains her parliamentary seat and remains an influential figure in French politics. She has vowed to fight the ruling and maintain her political presence, stating that she has “absolutely no sense of having committed the slightest irregularity.”
As France moves closer to the 2027 elections, the absence of Le Pen from the race is likely to reshape the political landscape, opening new opportunities for both her allies and opponents. Whether the National Rally can survive and thrive without her at the helm remains one of the biggest questions in French politics today.
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