French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was found guilty on Monday of embezzling European Union funds, and the chief judge barred her from seeking public office, according to the Associated Press. The court has not yet specified how long Le Pen will be ineligible to run, a decision that could significantly impact her political future, including her potential candidacy in the 2027 French presidential election.
Le Pen, sitting in the front row of the Paris courtroom, showed no immediate reaction as the judge declared her guilty, according to the Associated Press. However, as the ruling was further explained, she shook her head in disagreement and whispered, “Incredible.” The court found that Le Pen’s party, National Rally, had “illegally used European Parliament money for its own benefit.”
Before the full extent of her ineligibility was announced, Le Pen stood up and left the courtroom. She exited the courthouse and was driven away, creating a moment of high drama.
Court Finds a “System” of Embezzlement
The ruling stated that Le Pen and her co-defendants had been part of a system that misused EU parliamentary funds to pay party staff rather than legitimate European Parliament aides. The chief judge emphasized that while Le Pen and the others did not personally enrich themselves, the misused funds represented a “democratic bypass” that deceived both the European Parliament and voters, according to the Associated Press.
The verdict also applied to eight other current or former members of Le Pen’s party who had served as European Parliament lawmakers. Additionally, 12 individuals who had worked as parliamentary aides were also found guilty.
Prosecutors alleged that between 2004 and 2016, Le Pen’s party had used European Parliament funds to pay for work unrelated to the legislature, including for Le Pen’s personal assistant and her bodyguard, who was once her father’s bodyguard.
Potential Political Fallout
Le Pen and her co-defendants face potential prison sentences of up to 10 years. Prosecutors had initially sought a two-year prison sentence for Le Pen along with a five-year ineligibility period, arguing that barring her from running for office would be a necessary consequence of the case.
Le Pen has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has argued that the case is politically motivated. During her nine-week trial in late 2024, she warned the court that banning her from running would amount to “political death” and disenfranchise millions of her supporters.
“There are 11 million people who voted for the movement I represent,” she said during the trial, according to the Associated Press. “So tomorrow, potentially, millions and millions of French people would see themselves deprived of their candidate in the election.”
Her legal team is expected to appeal the ruling, which could lead to another trial. However, the biggest concern for Le Pen is that the court may declare her ineligible to run for office “with immediate effect” — even if she appeals, according to the Associated Press.
Who Could Succeed Le Pen?
If Le Pen is ultimately unable to run for president in 2027, her most likely successor is Jordan Bardella, her 29-year-old protégé. Bardella succeeded Le Pen as party leader in 2021 and has since positioned himself as the face of National Rally’s next generation.
Le Pen, who led National Rally (formerly the National Front) from 2011 to 2021, argued during the trial that the work of EU-paid aides naturally overlapped with party work. She claimed that her party had done nothing wrong by using the money to support staff performing both parliamentary and political duties.
The verdict is a major blow to Le Pen and her party, which has gained electoral strength in recent years.
Doonited Affiliated: Syndicate News Hunt
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