Marine Le Pen Sentenced to Five-Year Election Ban in France
In a major political shakeup, French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been sentenced to a five-year ban on running for office, casting uncertainty over her anticipated presidential bid in 2027. A French court on Monday ruled that Le Pen, along with several other figures from her National Rally (RN) party, misused European Parliament expenses in a scheme worth 2.9 million euros ($3.1 million). The ruling also includes a four-year prison sentence for Le Pen, with two years suspended and the remaining two to be served outside jail under electronic surveillance.
The verdict comes as a significant blow to Le Pen, who had positioned herself as the strongest contender to succeed President Emmanuel Macron. With Macron unable to run for a third term in 2027, Le Pen saw a historic opportunity to win the French presidency after three previous failed attempts. However, the court’s decision now prevents her from contesting in any elections, a ruling that applies immediately, even if she appeals.
The case revolves around allegations that Le Pen and her party misused European Parliament funds by employing assistants who were, in reality, working for the RN in France rather than performing legitimate parliamentary duties. In addition to Le Pen, nine other RN officials were found guilty of participating in the scheme, while twelve parliamentary assistants were convicted of concealing a crime. The court ruled that the financial fraud not only violated European regulations but also gave the party an unfair advantage by subsidizing its activities with public funds.
Presiding judge Benedicte de Perthuis stated that the court considered the risk of reoffending and the broader implications for public order if a convicted individual were allowed to contest the presidential election. She emphasized that the ruling was meant to uphold the integrity of the democratic process and prevent further misuse of public resources.
Le Pen, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, left the courtroom after the verdict but before the judge announced the prison sentence. She is expected to address the ruling in a primetime TV interview with French broadcaster TF1 later in the evening. In a newspaper article published a day before the verdict, Le Pen criticized the proceedings, arguing that the court was exerting undue influence over France’s democratic process. She claimed that the ruling was an attempt to silence her political movement and prevent her from challenging the establishment in 2027.
The ruling has sparked strong reactions both within France and internationally. In a swift response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused European governments of undermining democratic norms, suggesting that the decision was politically motivated. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a key ally of Le Pen in the European Union, expressed solidarity by posting "Je suis Marine!" ("I am Marine") on social media.
Within France, the verdict has caused turmoil within the RN party. With Le Pen unable to run, attention has shifted to her protégé, 29-year-old Jordan Bardella, the current RN party leader. Bardella condemned the ruling as an "execution of French democracy" and insisted that the charges against Le Pen were unjust. However, while Bardella has enjoyed growing popularity, political analysts question whether he has the experience necessary to mount a successful presidential campaign.
Le Pen herself recently acknowledged Bardella as a potential presidential candidate, stating in a documentary broadcast on BFMTV that he has the capability to lead France. However, doubts remain within the RN about whether he can maintain the party’s momentum and unite its voter base without Le Pen on the ballot.
Le Pen’s political journey has been marked by controversy and transformation. She took over leadership of the then-National Front (FN) in 2011 from her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, who had a history of making inflammatory remarks that alienated mainstream voters. Seeking to rebrand the party, she renamed it the National Rally and embarked on a strategy known as "dediabolisation" (de-demonization) to make it more palatable to a broader electorate. This effort paid off as the party gained significant political traction, culminating in its historic performance in the 2024 legislative elections, where it became the single largest party in the French parliament.
Despite this success, financial controversies have plagued the RN. Prosecutors argued that the party systematically misused European Parliament allowances, effectively easing financial strain on its own budget by disguising party workers as parliamentary assistants. The court found that these individuals were not assigned legitimate parliamentary tasks, reinforcing accusations that RN exploited public funds for its own benefit.
The ruling has divided political opinion in France. While Le Pen’s opponents welcome the court’s decision as a necessary step in upholding the rule of law, others—including some centrist politicians—have expressed discomfort with barring a leading candidate from the electoral process. France’s former EU commissioner Thierry Breton commented that, while he strongly opposes Le Pen’s politics, he would be troubled if millions of her supporters were denied the chance to vote for their preferred candidate.
As the political landscape shifts, the focus now turns to how RN will navigate this crisis. If Le Pen remains banned from running, the party must decide whether to rally behind Bardella or seek another alternative. Meanwhile, her legal team is expected to appeal the ruling, setting the stage for a prolonged legal battle that could shape France’s political future in the coming years.
The case also raises broader concerns about the balance between judicial accountability and democratic participation. While courts must enforce laws against financial misconduct, excluding a major candidate from elections risks fueling claims of political interference. With European far-right movements gaining ground in recent years, the consequences of Le Pen’s disqualification could extend beyond France, influencing nationalist movements across the continent.
For now, Marine Le Pen faces one of the most significant challenges of her political career. Whether she can overturn the ruling and reclaim her place in the 2027 race remains uncertain. However, what is clear is that the decision marks a turning point in French politics, setting the stage for a highly contentious election cycle in the years to come.