Marine Le Pen has vowed to continue her political battle after a French court sentenced her to four years in prison and banned her from holding elected office for five years. The ruling, tied to charges of misuse of public funds, could effectively bar her from running in the 2027 presidential election — where she has long been seen as a frontrunner.
In an interview with TF1 on the night of the verdict, Le Pen condemned the decision as politically driven, warning that “millions of French citizens” were being silenced along with her. “I am being eliminated, but in reality, so are the voices of the people who support me,” she said. As reported by HotNews, Le Pen expressed skepticism that her appeal would be resolved before the 2027 election, casting doubt on her ability to participate.
Legal Blow Threatens Presidential Ambitions
The court’s ruling, which includes a provision for “executory enforcement,” applies immediately, even as Le Pen prepares to appeal. She maintains her innocence, arguing that the charges — involving European Parliament funds allegedly used for party staffing — are unsubstantiated.
“This decision deprives me of a fair appeal,” Le Pen said, insisting that French law usually treats appeals as suspensive. “In my case, the judge chose otherwise — a choice clearly aimed at preventing me from being elected.”
She called March 31, 2025, “a disastrous day for democracy,” adding that “France, the country of human rights, is now employing tactics one would expect from authoritarian regimes.”
Bardella in Waiting?
Asked whether Jordan Bardella, the 28-year-old president of Le Pen’s Rassemblement National (RN), might become her replacement, Le Pen was noncommittal. “He’s an extraordinary asset,” she said, but expressed hope that “the party won’t need him sooner than expected.” Still, her political future hangs in the balance, with the path to 2027 narrowing quickly.
“I won’t let myself be eliminated like this,” she declared. “There is a way forward — narrow, but it exists.”
Trump and Other Allies Respond
Le Pen’s allies across the political right were quick to respond. Former U.S. President Donald Trump said the ruling reminded him of his own legal battles, calling it “very serious” and “similar to what’s happening in our country.”
Le Pen’s case has also drawn criticism from other nationalist leaders, including Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Italy’s Matteo Salvini, who accused the French justice system of using lawfare to undermine political rivals.
Despite the legal blow, Le Pen made it clear that she is not stepping back from public life. “I am not withdrawing,” she said. “I rely on the millions of French people who believe in me. I won’t bow to this denial of democracy.”
