Marine Le Pen Convicted, Banned from Office After EU Funds Embezzlement

Marine Le Pen, the leader of France's National Rally party, has been convicted of embezzling European Parliament funds, resulting in an immediate ban from running for public office, potentially derailing her 2027 presidential ambitions. The court found that Le Pen and several associates misused approximately €4.5 million intended for parliamentary assistants, instead using the funds to pay party staff in France. Prosecutors called for a five-year ban, which the court delivered, emphasizing the need for both punitive and preventive measures. Le Pen, who labeled the case a politically motivated attack, described the ruling as her 'political death,' affecting millions of her supporters. Her party has criticized the decision, likening it to judicial overreach, while her protégé, Jordan Bardella, is now positioned as a potential candidate for the upcoming election. Le Pen can appeal the ruling, but the ban remains in effect unless overturned.