French court bars far-right leader Le Pen from office for 5 years

A French court has convicted Marine Le Pen of embezzlement and prohibited her from seeking public office for five years, dealing a significant blow to her presidential ambitions and sending shockwaves through French politics.

Le Pen, speaking to French TV channel TF1, condemned the verdict as politically motivated, accusing it of being aimed at preventing her from running in the 2027 presidential election. She argued that millions of French citizens were “outraged” by the ruling and called it a violation of the rule of law.

She announced her intention to appeal the decision and requested that the court proceedings take place before the 2027 campaign. As a result, she will remain ineligible for candidacy until the appeal is concluded.

In addition to the ineligibility, Le Pen received a four-year prison sentence, with two years under house arrest and two years suspended—though the sentence will not apply pending the appeal.

The ruling has far-reaching political consequences, undermining one of the top contenders to succeed President Emmanuel Macron after his second term ends. The implications are so significant that even some of Le Pen's political adversaries have expressed concerns that the court's decision was overly harsh.

However, it is uncertain how this ruling will impact voters. The potential disqualification of Le Pen might energize her devoted supporters, similar to how legal issues have galvanised some of Donald Trump’s base in the U.S. On the other hand, it might push her further out of the political spotlight, halting her rising political momentum.