Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Ben Gurion Airport airspace sut down following missile launch from Yemen
Israeli media: Air raid sirens sound in the central region and Hashfala following the detection of a missile launch from Yemen
SDF announces the killing of three of its members as a result of ISIS cells detonating a landmine targeting a vehicle of a security patrol on the Hasaka-Raqqa road
The Popular Resistance Committees: We call on all international institutions to take urgent action and uphold their responsibilities by restoring and immediately enforcing effective mechanisms for the distribution of humanitarian aid.
The Popular Resistance Committees: The latest Zio-American crime against Gaza’s starving civilians constitutes a war crime, for which the US administration bears full and direct responsibility.
Gaza Media Office: Bloody spectacle shows that these zones have become collective death traps rather than aid distribution zones.
Gaza Media Office: Dozens of citizens are still surrounded under constant fire in the vicinity of the "aid station."
Gaza Media Office: As soon as citizens arrived, occupation and Americans opened direct fire on them.
Gaza Media Office: Occupation, in complicity with the US company, called on citizens to move toward Wadi Gaza Bridge, claiming that aid would be distributed.
Gaza Government Media Office: Occupation set a bloody trap at bridge of Wadi Gaza, luring thousands of starved civilians, and opened fire on them.

Le Pen slapped with 5-year ban from office after graft scandal

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 31 Mar 2025 08:47
5 Min Read

The leader of France's National Rally (RN) party also received a four-year prison sentence, of which two are suspended, and a 100,000 euro fine.

Listen
  • x
  • French far-right leader Marine Le Pen at the National Assembly, Tuesday, January 14, 2025, in Paris, France (AP)
    French far-right leader Marine Le Pen at the National Assembly, Tuesday, January 14, 2025, in Paris, France (AP)

A court in Paris found Marine Le Pen, the leader of the National Rally faction in the French parliament, guilty of embezzlement of European Parliament funds by the fraudulent hiring of assistants to party deputies, the judge announced on Monday.

"Madame Le Pen has been found guilty of embezzlement of public funds," the judge said.

Another eight other party lawmakers were found guilty, while some 12 deputies were found guilty of "hiding information".

Le Pen was also handed an immediate five-year ban from public office, which will bar her from running in the 2027 presidential race unless she appeals and wins the case.

The ruling marks a catastrophic setback for Le Pen.

On Friday, France’s constitutional council ruled that politicians convicted of crimes can be barred from office immediately.

The far-right leader, the RN, and two dozen party figures were accused of diverting more than 4 million euros ($4.33 million) of European Parliament funds to pay France-based staff. ​They contended that the funds were utilized appropriately and that the accusations had an overly restrictive interpretation of a parliamentary assistant's role.​

Judge Benedicte de Perthuis said Le Pen had been "at the heart" of the scheme.

Le Pen's removal from the race is likely to intensify a debate in France over how judges police politics.

Four-year prison sentence and a fine

The leader of France's National Rally (RN) party also received a four-year prison sentence, of which two are suspended, and a 100,000 euro fine. She is expected to appeal, and these penalties will not be enforced until all appeals are exhausted.

However, her five-year ineligibility to hold public office takes immediate effect, a measure requested by prosecutors, and will only be overturned if her appeal succeeds before the next election, so Le Pen will retain her parliamentary seat until her current term concludes.​

Pivotal moment

Related News

French minister under fire over 'barbarians' remark after PSG CL win

France expels Algerian diplomats in tit-for-tat move as feud deepens

Political analyst Arnaud Benedetti described Le Pen's five-year ban as a pivotal moment in French politics with widespread implications across various parties and the electorate. He stated, "This is a seismic political event. Inevitably, it's going to reshuffle the pack, particularly on the right."

Appeals in France can take months or even years.

Meanwhile, RN President Jordan Bardella, Le Pen's 29-year-old right-hand man, now looks set to become the party's de facto candidate for the 2027 election.

While he has helped expand the RN's appeal among younger voters, experts say it's unclear whether he has the experience to win over the broader electorate the RN needs to secure victory in 2027.

"I am not sure that Jordan Bardella's political proposition is mature enough to be able to compete credibly in the presidential election," Benedetti said.

'Threat to democracy'

Le Pen has denounced the prosecution as an attempt to end her political career, arguing that barring her from office would defy public will and pose a threat to democracy.

A poll conducted by Le Figaro earlier this month suggested that 42% of French voters supported her candidacy for 2027.

While Le Pen appointed Jordan Bardella as RN president in 2021, a senior party official admitted that there was “no plan B” should she be ruled ineligible to run.

Marc de Fleurian, an RN MP for Pas-de-Calais, dismissed concerns about ineligibility, stating, “The question doesn’t arise. It’s not taboo, but as long as we’ve said that such injustice cannot happen, it won’t.”

Some €7 million embezzled

Le Pen and 24 other RN members—including party officials, employees, MEPs, and assistants—were tried in November on allegations of diverting approximately €7 million in European Parliament funds meant for EU staff to pay party workers in France. All defendants have denied the charges.

The members were accused of putting up a scheme for embezzling EU funds to recruit people in France beginning in 2015, with prosecutors saying that National Front eurodeputies, including Le Pen, participated in the scam beginning in 2004.

A conviction would place Le Pen’s political ambitions in jeopardy. She is expected to appeal any guilty verdict, which would delay the enforcement of penalties, including any potential prison term or fine. However, if judges enforce an immediate ban from public office, she may be unable to compete in the 2027 race unless she is exonerated before the election.

Le Pen has remained defiant, stating last week, “I’m not thinking about it. Fear doesn’t remove the danger, so I don’t see any interest in guessing in advance. I consider myself completely innocent of what I have been accused, so if my guilt is declared, then I will use the law to again defend my innocence.”

5 years in prison?

The Paris prosecutor had in November requested a five-year prison sentence and a five-year ban from political office for Le Pen over the debacle.

The proposed prison sentence is "convertible," meaning Le Pen may not necessarily serve time in prison, according to AFP.

The prosecutor requested that the political office ban take effect immediately without being postponed during the appeals process, contrary to what some had anticipated. This ban would apply to all 25 defendants in the case. "The law applies to all," Prosecutor Nicolas Barret told the court.

  • France
  • Marine Le Pen
  • National Rally
  • Paris
  • European Parliament

Most Read

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)

Rift widens: Trump, Netanyahu clash in heated phone call over Iran

  • Politics
  • 26 May 2025
US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump tensions

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump pressures

  • US & Canada
  • 25 May 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
MIT bans class president who gave pro-Palestine speech
US & Canada

MIT bans class president over pro-Palestine speech

Arab ministers condemn Israel 'ban' on planned West Bank visit
Politics

Arab ministers condemn Israeli ban on planned West Bank visit

Major General Hu Gangfeng, Vice President, National Defense University, People's Liberation Army, China, leaves after a panel discussion during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Politics

China blasts Hegseth, calls US top 'troublemaker' in Asia-Pacific

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: Reports
Technology

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: NBC News

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS