Le Pen Banned from 2027 Election After Conviction

Marine Le Pen, leader of France's far-right National Rally party, has been convicted of embezzling European Union funds and barred from running for public office, including the 2027 presidential election. The Paris court found her and several other party members guilty of diverting over €4 million in EU funds to finance domestic party activities, a scheme described as unprecedented in scale. Le Pen, who has already run for president three times, called the ruling a 'political death sentence' and intends to appeal, although the ban takes immediate effect regardless. The court also imposed a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended, and a €100,000 fine on Le Pen. This verdict dramatically alters the political landscape in France and threatens the future of her political career and the National Rally party. Despite her conviction, Le Pen can retain her current parliamentary seat but cannot seek re-election during her ban.