The French political landscape was shaken on March 31 as Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally (RN) party, received a four-year prison sentence-two years of which were suspended-on charges of embezzlement. Additionally, she was barred from running for public office for five years, a ruling that effectively sidelines her from the 2027 presidential election. Le Pen, a dominant force in French politics and a fierce critic of the European Union and NATO, has denounced the court’s decision as a politically motivated attack designed to eliminate her from the electoral race.

Le Pen has been embroiled in an ongoing legal battle regarding accusations that she misused over €4 million in EU parliamentary funds between 2004 and 2016. The case alleges that she and her party members employed parliamentary aides for work unrelated to their official duties, a charge she has consistently denied.

Speaking to the French broadcaster TF1 on the evening of the ruling, Le Pen claimed the conviction was politically motivated, stating, “The sole purpose of the ruling was to prevent me from participating and being elected in the presidential election.” She added that the court’s decision violated the rule of law and equated its practices to those of authoritarian regimes.

Le Pen’s outrage was echoed by her supporters, who view the ruling as an undemocratic attempt to silence dissent. Her conviction, which she plans to appeal, follows a pattern of judicial scrutiny against populist and nationalist leaders across Europe who challenge the EU’s central policies.

Le Pen’s sentencing has ignited a firestorm of controversy in France and........

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