• French politician Marine Le Pen was sentenced to four years in prison (two suspended) and barred from public office for five years for embezzling €4 million ($4.33 million) in EU funds, dealing a major blow to her 2027 presidential ambitions.
• She denounced the ruling as a “political decision,” accused the court of violating democracy and vowed to appeal, framing the case as an “administrative disagreement” rather than criminal misconduct.
• The presiding judge and two magistrates received armed protection after far-right supporters issued threats, prompting condemnation from judicial officials who warned against undermining democracy.
• The verdict sparked domestic and international backlash, with far-right allies like Hungary’s Viktor Orban and Italy’s Matteo Salvini decrying it as undemocratic, while critics in France debated judicial overreach.
• Le Pen’s ban sidelines her from the race, potentially elevating RN leader Jordan Bardella as her successor, though the case has intensified debates over judicial influence in politics and France’s future direction.

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been sentenced to four years in prison – two of them suspended – and barred from holding public office for five years after being convicted of embezzling over €4 million ($4.33 million) in European Parliament funds.

The ruling delivered Monday, March 31, by a Paris court deals a major blow to her presidential ambitions ahead of the 2027 election, where she had been a leading contender. Le Pen, the former leader of the National Rally (RN) party, immediately denounced the verdict as a “political decision” designed to block her from running for office.

Speaking to French broadcaster TF1, she accused the court of violating the rule of law and resorting to tactics “reserved for authoritarian regimes.” She vowed to appeal, calling the case an “administrative disagreement” rather than criminal misconduct. (Related: Le Pen slams witch-hunt after investigation launched into 2022 presidential campaign funding)

“The rule of law has been completely violated by the decision that was made,” Le Pen disputed, promising to appeal the court ruling “as soon as possible.” She claimed that the court resorted to “practices that were believed to be reserved for authoritarian regimes,” and called it a “disastrous day for our democracy and for our country.”

According to the daughter of RN’s founder Jean-Marie Le Pen, “millions of French people” were deprived of their preferred candidate at the upcoming elections by a “lower court judge.” She declared: “There are millions of French people this evening, who are outraged … to an unimaginable degree.”

The conviction stems from a decade-long investigation into allegations that the younger Le Pen and 24 other RN members misused EU funds between 2004 and 2016 to pay party staff instead of parliamentary aides. Judge Benedicte de Perthuis, who presided over the case, ruled that the erstwhile RN leader was “at the heart” of the scheme, describing it as deliberate embezzlement rather than bureaucratic errors.

Guilty verdict has political repercussions inside and outside France

The fallout from the verdict has escalated beyond the courtroom. Judge de Perthuis and two other magistrates involved in the case have been placed under armed police protection after receiving “clearly expressed personal threats,” according to French media. Far-right supporters were reportedly behind the intimidation, prompting condemnation from judicial officials.

Jacques Boulard, First President of the Paris Court of Appeal, called for respect for the judiciary, warning that threats against judges undermine democracy. France’s Justice Minister, Gérald Darmanin, also expressed concern over the attacks, emphasizing the need to protect judicial independence.

The ruling has sparked fierce debate in France, with critics arguing that the judiciary is overstepping into politics. RN president Jordan Bardella called the verdict a “death sentence for French democracy,” while even some of Le Pen’s opponents, like former presidential candidate Éric Zemmour, questioned the fairness of disqualifying an elected leader.

Internationally, far-right figures rallied behind Le Pen. Hungary’s Viktor Orban declared solidarity on social media, posting, “I am Marine!” Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini condemned the ruling as a “declaration of war by Brussels,” and Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov accused European institutions of abandoning democratic principles.

Le Pen’s future and the 2027 election

Despite the conviction, Le Pen remains a member of France’s National Assembly and has vowed to stay politically active. However, the five-year ban – unless overturned on appeal – effectively sidelines her from the 2027 race. Polls had shown her as a strong contender, with recent surveys suggesting she could lead the first round of voting.

Her potential successor, the 29-year-old Bardella, is now positioned to take her place, though the party faces an uphill battle to regain momentum. Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron, barred from seeking a third term, must navigate a fragmented political landscape ahead of the election.

As appeals proceed, the case has intensified scrutiny over judicial influence in politics, with Le Pen’s supporters framing the trial as an attempt to suppress dissent. With tensions high and protests brewing, the verdict may mark a turning point in France’s political future – one that could reshape the balance of power in Europe.

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Watch Marine Le Pen stating that France cannot promise Ukraine NATO membership in this clip.

This video is from the Cynthia’s Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

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Sources include:

RT.com

DailyMail.co.uk

NBCNews.com

Brighteon.com