Marine Le Pen rebukes ban on running for French presidency
3 Min Read
The French court sentenced Le Pen to a ban from public office, a four-year prison sentence, of which she will serve only two by wearing an electronic tag, and a fine of 100,000 euros.
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French far-right leader Marine Le Pen leaves the National Rally headquarters after a French court convicted her of embezzlement and barred her from seeking public office for five years, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Paris. (AP)
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen criticized the French court's decision on Monday to ban her from running in the 2027 Presidential elections.
Le Pen was found guilty of large-scale embezzlement of European parliament funds and was sentenced to four years in prison, two of which were suspended and two of which will be served outside of jail while wearing an electronic bracelet, and a fine of 100,000 euros (84,000 dollars).
The judge announced that the French far-right figure had been found guilty of embezzling public funds, while eight other party lawmakers were also convicted, and around 12 deputies were found guilty of concealing information.
Enraged by the decision, Le Pen announced that she would file an appeal against the court decision.
The far-right figurehead told TF1 television on Monday night that she would “pursue whatever legal avenues” she could to avoid being "eliminated" from the presidential elections, adding that she is "not going to submit to a denial of democracy this easily."
The court found that Le Pen did not personally benefit from the embezzled funds. She insisted that she did not do anything wrong, proclaiming, "I am going to appeal because I am innocent.
The five-year ban on running for public office is to take effect immediately, ensuring its applicability even as Le Pen proceeds with her appeal against the verdict, while neither the prison sentence nor the fine will be enforced until all appeals are exhausted, a process that could extend for years.
Le Pen's party, the National Rally, decried the sentencing, calling it a travesty, and the President of the far-right party announced, “Today it is not only Marine Le Pen who was unjustly condemned: French democracy was killed.”
Jordan Bardella, President of the National Rally, urged party supporters to hold peaceful protests, emphasizing that "the will of the people is stronger," while a petition in support of Le Pen gained momentum and a nationwide leafleting campaign prepared to unfold over the weekend in France
United States President Donald Trump described the conviction as a "very big deal," telling reporters that “I know all about it, and a lot of people thought she wasn’t going to be convicted of anything,” alluding at previous court cases he personally faced, saying “But she was banned for running for five years, and she’s the leading candidate. That sounds like this country, that sounds very much like this country."
Prior to Le Pen's trial, a December poll conducted by Ifop for Le Figaro and Sud Radio revealed that 35-38% of the 1,101 individuals surveyed would vote for Le Pen, while former Prime Ministers Edouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal received the support of 24-26% and 20% of respondents, respectively.
