Marine Le Pen To Appeal Election Ban, Condemns Ruling As ‘Political Decision’.
French far-right politician Marine Le Pen has vowed to appeal a court ruling that bars her from running for public office for five years, describing it as a “political decision.”
Le Pen was found guilty on Monday of embezzling European Union funds and sentenced to a four-year prison term, with two years suspended. Instead of serving time in custody, she can wear an electronic tag for the remaining two years. She was also fined €100,000 (£82,635).
The decision means that unless she successfully overturns her sentence, she will be unable to contest the 2027 presidential election, which was widely seen as her best chance of securing victory after three previous attempts.
“I’m not going to let myself be eliminated like this,” Le Pen told French television channel TF1, adding that she would challenge the verdict “as soon as possible” through “whatever legal avenues I can.”
A Divisive Verdict
The ruling has sent shockwaves through France’s political landscape, with supporters and allies branding it a “democratic scandal.” Jordan Bardella, the 29-year-old president of Le Pen’s National Rally (RN), called for a “popular, peaceful mobilisation” and shared an online petition accusing the judiciary of trying to silence the French electorate.
During the trial, prosecutors alleged that Le Pen and more than 20 other RN members misused €2.9 million in EU funds by hiring assistants who worked on party affairs instead of parliamentary duties. The court also fined the National Rally €2 million, with half of the sum suspended.
Le Pen, who walked out of court before the sentence was read, has denied any wrongdoing, stating that she had committed “not the slightest irregularity.” The appeal process, however, could take more than a year, making preparations for the 2027 election significantly more difficult.
Mixed Political Reactions
While Le Pen’s allies, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, expressed solidarity, some of her political opponents have also voiced concerns.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the far-left France Unbowed, stated that “the choice to dismiss an elected official should only belong to the people.” Similarly, Laurent Wauquiez of the right-wing Republicans warned that the decision would “weigh very heavily on the functioning of our democracy.”
Meanwhile, centrist Prime Minister François Bayrou was reportedly “troubled” by the ruling but has refrained from making a public statement.
As the legal battle unfolds, Le Pen’s political future remains uncertain, with her appeal likely to be a major test of France’s judicial and democratic institutions.
