France's Marine Le Pen has been convicted in a significant legal case involving the misappropriation of European Union funds intended for her party, the National Rally (RN). This ruling could potentially prevent her from running in the upcoming presidential election scheduled for 2027. The presiding judge has not yet announced the specific sentencing, but prosecutors have recommended a fine of €300,000 (£250,000), a prison sentence, and an immediate ban from holding public office for five years.
During the proceedings, which included more than 20 other senior members of her party, Le Pen was accused of hiring assistants who primarily worked on party matters rather than fulfilling their roles within the European Parliament, which provided their compensation. Despite these allegations, Le Pen maintained her innocence, claiming she had not engaged in any irregularities.
The judge's decision is pivotal, as it may deter her eligibility to run for office during an appeal process, which Le Pen is expected to initiate. There remains the possibility that the court could choose not to enforce an automatic ineligibility clause or impose a shorter duration for it, which would allow her to campaign during the appeals. This developing story continues to unfold, with more details to come as the situation evolves.
