 "France's far-right leader, Marine Le Pen, convicted in EU funds embezzlement trial")
A French court on Monday (March 31) convicted French far-right leader Marine Le Pen on charges of embezzlement of public funds over a fake jobs scam at the EU parliament.
Nine individuals from Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) party, including Le Pen herself, were convicted for a scheme in which they exploited European Parliament expenses to hire “fictitious” parliamentary assistants who were, in reality, performing duties for the party.
Additionally, twelve assistants were found guilty of concealing a crime, with the court estimating that the total value of the scheme reached 2.9 million euros.
What punishment is Le Pen facing?
Prosecutors had called for a five-year suspended prison sentence, a €300,000 ($324,000) fine and a five-year ban on holding public office— a move that would prevent her from running in the next presidential election if upheld.
The judge banned Le Pen from running for office after her conviction, specifying that the sanction should come into force with immediate effect even if an appeal is lodged.
That effectively eliminates the far-right figurehead from the 2027 race at a time when she is seen as having her strongest chance yet at winning the presidency.
Le Pen, a three-time presidential candidate and head of the National Rally party, had denied any wrongdoing.
She left the courtroom after her conviction and this sanction were announced, but before the judge announced rulings on a potential prison sentence and fine, an AFP correspondent said.
She has argued the case is politically motivated and has framed it as part of an effort to weaken her ahead of the next national vote. A ruling that bars her from office makes for a major shakeup in French politics, as polls suggest she is a leading contender to succeed President Emmanuel Macron, who is not eligible to run again.
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