Marine Le Pen, a central figure of France’s far-right National Rally (RN), has been found guilty of embezzling EU funds and banned from running for public office, according to a French court ruling on March 31.
The verdict, delivered in Paris, follows a years-long investigation into the misuse of European Parliament funds and deals a potentially fatal blow to Le Pen’s 2027 presidential bid.
The court found that Le Pen and 20 other party figures, including eight RN members of the European Parliament and 12 parliamentary assistants, had misappropriated EU money meant for legitimate parliamentary work.
Instead, the funds were allegedly redirected to support National Rally activities within France between 2004 and 2016.
While the court did not immediately disclose how long Le Pen will be disqualified from office, the ban takes immediate effect.
According to The Kyiv Independent, French prosecutors had pushed for a five-year political ban and a 10-year prison sentence.
“I Absolutely Don’t Feel Guilty”
Le Pen has denied wrongdoing throughout the proceedings. “I absolutely don’t feel I have committed the slightest irregularity,” she told the court, according to France24. She claimed the case was politically motivated, saying prosecutors were more focused on blocking her presidential ambitions than on impartial justice.
This ruling comes as a major setback for Le Pen, who had been considered a strong contender for the 2027 French presidential election, following second-place finishes in both 2017 and 2022, where she ultimately lost to Emmanuel Macron in the runoff.
Ties to Russia Cast a Shadow
Le Pen’s political career has long been scrutinized for her party’s historic ties to Russia. In 2014, the National Rally received a €9 million loan from a Russian bank, despite existing EU sanctions.
She previously defended Russia’s annexation of Crimea and has publicly expressed admiration for Vladimir Putin.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Le Pen has tried to distance herself from her past pro-Kremlin rhetoric. She has condemned the war and expressed support for Ukrainian defenders. Still, she has consistently opposed key military aid measures, such as sending French SCALP missiles or deploying French troops as peacekeepers.
Impact on French Politics
Le Pen’s National Rally remains a major force in French politics, holding the largest number of seats in the lower house of parliament. Her absence from future elections will undoubtedly reshape the political landscape ahead of 2027, leaving room for internal power shifts within the RN—and potentially boosting centrist and left-wing challengers.
Despite the court ruling, Le Pen could still choose to appeal the decision, but for now, her once-inevitable rise to the presidency appears to be over.
