Le Pen barred from seeking political office
The popular right-wing French lawmaker has been barred from seeking public office over financial misconduct
The five-year ban for the 56-year-old MP came into effect immediately, regardless of any appeals process. Le Pen left the court before the judge read the decision in full, according to French media.
The French Constitutional Council ruled in an unrelated case on Friday that imposing an immediate political ban, termed a “provisional execution,” was legal under basic law. The body is the nation’s highest authority on constitutional matters.
https://www.rt.com/news/614997-le-pen-embezzlemen-verdict/
French presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen sentenced to jail: Live Updates
A Paris court has barred the right-wing politician from taking part in the 2027 election
Le Pen and others have been convicted of embezzling EU funds intended for political assistants and face a variety of sentences, including a five-year ban on seeking public office and two years house arrest.
Several other defendants have also been sentenced to prison terms of various lengths.
RN is the single largest party in the French parliament and the sentencing has sent a shockwave through the country's, and wider European, politics.
31 March 2025
17:48 GMT
Former French President Francois Hollande has called for “respect for the independence of the judiciary” following Le Pen’s conviction. “Justice has spoken legally, has not preached morality, and has spoken with complete independence,” Hollande told BFM-TV, adding that the court had handed down “a harsh sentence, but for serious offenses.”
17:28 GMT
Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev has called the verdict an attempt by French authorities to eliminate political rivals, saying that the Fifth French Republic has completely discredited itself.
“The main goal of this hastily arranged ruling is to sideline the leader of one of France’s major parties ahead of the 2027 presidential election,” Medvedev wrote on the social media platform VKontakte, adding that “the world recently witnessed a similar disgrace in Romania.”
17:08 GMT
France’s Socialist Party has said it acknowledges the court’s ruling against Le Pen “as it would any other,” and urged to “respect the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.”
“The Socialist Party remains committed to defending republican values and transparency in public life, which are essential to building public trust,” the party said in a statement.
16:32 GMT
RN President Jordan Bardella, in a post on X, has called the verdict against Le Pen “a democratic scandal” and urged “peaceful and popular mobilization” to show that “the will of the people is stronger.”
An accompanying petition titled ‘Save democracy, support Marine’ has said: “You have always been able to count on Marine Le Pen, on her willingness to defend you, on her patriotism. Today, she is counting on you.”
https://www.rt.com/news/615015-le-pen-live-updates/