French court bars far-right leader Le Pen from public office for embezzling EU funds
A French court has barred far-right leader Marine Le Pen from seeking public office after it found her guilty of embezzling European Union funds.
The Paris court ruled that Le Pen used more than 3 million euros (Ksh427,350,000) of European Parliament funds to pay members of her National Rally party.
In her sentence, the chief judge announced that the nationalist politician would not be allowed to run for office, effective immediately.
The ruling threatens to push Le Pen out of the 2027 presidential race, in which she is currently the frontrunner, according to opinion polls.
The court has not yet announced the length of the ban. Prosecutors have requested it should run for five years.
Le Pen has accused prosecutors of seeking her “political death”. A jail sentence and heavy financial penalty are also possible.
“If Marine Le Pen can’t run, that would change the landscape of the French far right and its prospects,” said Al Jazeera’s Natacha Butler from the Paris courtroom.
“Most likely it would be Jordan Bardella to take her place, the current president of RN.
“But he is much younger and not the same kind of dominant force as Marine Le Pen,” she added. “He’s not the figure that so many in France know, and so some say he would likely find it tougher in the 2027 race.
“Others say a fresh face may be what’s needed.”
