Marine Le Pen was found guilty of embezzlement of European Union funds by a court in Paris. As a result, she was banned from acting as a public office for 5 years, preventing her from moving for office in the 2027 presidential election. Additionally, the court sentenced Le Pen to 4 years in prison, of which 2 years suspended, and a fine of EUR 100,000.
The case afraid irregularities in the hiring of parliamentary assistants in the European Parliament from 2004 to 2016. Le Pen and 24 another members of her party, including 9 erstwhile MEPs and 12 assistants, were found guilty of utilizing funds allocated to assistants to fund organization activities in France. The court stated that Le Pen employed 4 organization staff as parliamentary assistants, including her individual assistant and bodyguard, which was an abuse of EU funds.
The decision of the court sparked stormy reactions on the French political scene. Jordan Bardella, president of the National Unity (RN) and protégé Le Pen, stated that “today, not only Marine Le Pen was unjustly convicted: it was French democracy that was killed.” Marion Maréchal, Le Pen's niece and Euro MP of the rival far right party, stressed that her aunt “led our website on the way to victory. This is her only fault, and that is why she was convicted.”
This conviction is simply a major blow to Le Pen's political ambitions, which planned for the 4th time to search the office of president of France in 2027. Her party, National Unity, must now consider a future strategy and possibly appoint a fresh candidate for the highest office in the country. Jordan Bardella, the current president of the party, is seen as a natural successor, though his political experience is limited.
It is worth noting that the conviction is not valid and Le Pen announced an appeal. The appeal process may take respective months and its result will be crucial for Le Pen's political future and its party.
