Court in France Convicts Marine Le Pen and Sets 5 Year Ban on Seeking Public Office

A court in France convicted far right leader Marine Le Pen of embezzlement and barred her from seeking public office for five years.

The court sentenced Le Pen to four years in prison and a fine of $108,000. Two years are to be served under house arrest and two years are suspended.

Her attorney said she will appeal. Although house arrest is suspended while the appeal is heard and she is allowed to continue holding her seat as a lawmaker in the National Assembly, she is ineligible to run for public office while the appeal is underway. This may keep her from making a fourth run at the Presidency in 2027. She came second behind President Emmanuel Macron in 2017 and 2022, and her political party National Rally (formerly National Front) has been gaining electoral strength. Macron is in his second and final term. Le Pen aimed to succeed him.

Le Pen and 24 others in her party were accused of redirecting money for European Union parliamentary aides. The money paid party staff instead between 2004 and 2016. This violated EU regulations.

Also convicted were

• eight current or former members of the party who served as lawmakers in the European Parliament, as did Le Pen
• twelve people who were parliamentary aides
• three others

One defendant was acquitted.

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