A ruling by a Paris court on March 31 has sent shockwaves through French politics, effectively barring right-wing leader Marine Le Pen from contesting the 2027 presidential election. The former leader of the National Rally (RN) and current head of its parliamentary faction was sentenced to four years in prison, with two years without parole, over allegations of embezzling European Union funds. The verdict, which also includes a five-year ban on holding public office, has sparked fierce debate about judicial neutrality, political fairness, and the future of French democracy.

The case against Le Pen and several other RN figures centers on accusations that they misused EU funds intended for parliamentary aides, redirecting them instead to finance party activities. The Paris court found Le Pen and eight other former Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) guilty of running the scheme between 2004 and 2016, sentencing several of them to prison terms ranging from 12 months to three years.

As part of the court’s decision, RN was hit with a fine of €2 million ($2.2 million), while Le Pen herself faces severe political and legal consequences. The ruling immediately disqualifies her from the 2027 presidential race, where she was a leading contender, setting off a wave of condemnation from across the political spectrum.

Le Pen’s lawyer, Rodolphe Bosselut, has vowed to appeal the ruling, denouncing it as a politically........

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