French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been found guilty of embezzling European Union funds and banned from running for public office for five years. The court sentenced Le Pen to four years in prison, with two years suspended, and a fine of 100,000 euros.
Judge Benedicte de Perthuis stated that Le Pen was “at the heart” of the scheme, which involved misusing over 3 million euros of European Parliament funds to pay party staff between 2004 and 2016. “It was established that all these people were actually working for the party, that their (EU) lawmaker had not given them any tasks,” de Perthuis said.
Le Pen’s party, National Rally (RN), has accused prosecutors of seeking Le Pen’s “political death” to keep her from seeking public office. RN party president Jordan Bardella said Le Pen had been “unjustly condemned,” adding that French democracy had been “executed.”
The ban on Le Pen running for public office could have significant implications for French politics. A recent poll found that Le Pen would easily win the first round of the next presidential election, with around 42% of the vote.
Le Pen can appeal the verdict, but a “provisional execution” could see her barred from running in the election. She can also seek a last-minute reprieve from the French Constitutional Council, which is expected to hand a separate decision on Friday.
The trial has sparked debate within France about the role of judges in the country’s politics. Le Pen said Saturday that she expected leniency from the judges, but the court’s decision has put her political future in jeopardy