Le Pen barred from seeking political office

A Paris court has prohibited Marine Le Pen, a leading figure in the right-wing National Rally (RN) party, from running for public office. Le Pen, who had described such an outcome as “political death,” was found guilty of embezzling EU funds along with several other lawmakers.

The five-year ban for the 56-year-old MP came into effect immediately, regardless of any appeals process. Le Pen left the court before the judge read the decision in full, according to French media.

The French Constitutional Council ruled in an unrelated case on Friday that imposing an immediate political ban, termed a “provisional execution,” was legal under basic law. The body is the nation’s highest authority on constitutional matters.

RN and two dozen of its senior figures, including Le Pen, were accused of diverting over €3 million ($3.3 million) between 2004 and 2016. According to the accusations, money intended for payments to European Parliament aides instead went to national staff. Le Pen was found guilty alongside eight MEPs.

Le Pen ran for the French presidency in three consecutive elections, with Emmanuel Macron beating her in 2022 by less than 10 percent points.

Described as “far-right” by her critics, Le Pen has opposed EU policies on numerous issues, including Brussels’ handling of illegal immigration and support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.

Le Pen heads the RN faction in the National Assembly, but stepped down from the party leadership in 2022, when she was succeeded by Jordan Bardella.