Paris Court Bans French Far-Right Leader Marine Le Pen from Politics for Five Years
In a landmark ruling, a Paris court has barred Marine Le Pen, the prominent figurehead of France’s far-right National Rally (RN) party, from running for political office for five years after finding her guilty of embezzling European Union funds. The verdict, delivered on March 31, 2025, also sentenced Le Pen to a four-year prison term, with two years suspended, to be served under house arrest. Additionally, she has been ordered to pay a fine of €100,000 ($108,000).
The court’s decision stems from allegations that Le Pen and her party misappropriated €4.1 million in EU funds. The RN has been fined €2 million as a result. Judge Bénédicte de Perthuis, who presided over the case, described Le Pen’s actions as a “serious and lasting attack on the rules of democratic life in Europe, particularly in France.” She emphasized that the immediate ban on Le Pen’s political eligibility was necessary to prevent “democratic public unrest” that could arise from allowing a convicted embezzler to seek elected office.
Le Pen’s legal team swiftly announced plans to appeal the ruling, setting the stage for a protracted legal battle. The verdict marks a significant blow to the National Rally, which has been a major force in French politics under Le Pen’s leadership and could reshape the country’s political landscape ahead of future elections.
