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The far -right leader, Marine Le Pen, was forbidden to appear in the elections for five years with immediate effect and sentenced to prison after being found guilty of the EU’s embezzlement.
The court’s decision on Monday prevents her from presenting himself to the 2027 presidential election, for which she is one of the favorites.
Le Pen, who left the courtroom before the announcement of his sentence, said that she would appeal.
Although the five -year electoral ban will start immediately, the four -year sentence in Le Pen prison, two years, would only begin once there are legal appeal. She was also sentenced to a fine of € 100,000.
“It is necessary to ensure that elected officials do not benefit from preferential treatment,” said Bénédicte de Perthuis, justifying the imposition of a prohibition with an immediate effect.
Pen’s ability to operate in 2027 will depend on the duration of the call process and its ultimate result. The conviction could also strike its popularity with voters.
“Today, it is not only Marine Le Pen who is unjustly condemned: it is French democracy that is being executed,” said Jordan Bardella, leader of the National Gathering Party of Le Pen, published on X.
The court concluded that a system of false contracts and jobs helped the RN party to siphon around 4.4 million euros in EU funds for its operations in France.
24 Other elected officials RN – including nine former members of the European Parliament – were tried for similar offenses alongside Le Pen, who was a deputy for deputy between 2004 and 2016.
“These are false contracts,” said the chief judge by reading the verdict.
She added that although there is “no personal enrichment” for the ex-MEPS involved, they benefited from “financial comfort” as well as financial assistance to the party.
