Members of Congress and leader of the French far-right national rally (RASMBLEMEN-RN) party, Marine Corps Le Pen arrived at the RN Party headquarters in Paris, France on July 1, 2024.
Benoit Tessier | Reuters
According to Reuters and French media reports, the leader of the French far-right National Assembly Navy Linle Pen was banned from running for office for five years because he was sentenced to lay off EU funds.
The decision is a watershed in French politics as it ceases her hopes for the 2027 presidential election and has thrown her party into chaos after the rapid rise in popularity in recent years. There is a widespread expectation of Le Pen to appeal the conviction.
Earlier Monday, Le Pen and eight members of the party’s European Parliament (MPs) were convicted of embezzlement of public funds, meaning Le Pen could face a €300,000 ($325,000) fine, imprisonment, imprisonment and a five-year ban on public office to prevent her from running for the 2027 presidential election.
The court then announced that all crimes committed by Le Pen and her other co-defendants should be immediately prohibited from public office. Le Pen was also sentenced to four years in prison, two of which would be suspended and fined €100,000 in the Paris judgment. In the event of any appeal proceedings, the latter two penalties will not be imposed, but public office is immediately prohibited.
The far-right flame leader reportedly left the court and then heard the time when she might be banned from running for office. The result brings the powerful French right into chaos Le Pen is the lead poll before next presidential vote.
Jordan Bardella, president of the National Assembly and regarded as the right-hand man of Le Pen, commented in his verdict: “Today, it’s not just the Marines that are condemned: it’s French democracy that is being enforced.”
conviction
Le Pen and 24 other members of her party, Rassmblement National, are accused of transferring more than 3 million euros ($3.3 million) of European Parliament funds, instead paying employees in France.
Le Pen and her co-defendant denied the allegations, and the party described the trial as a politically motivated hunt.
Twelve aides were found guilty of stolen goods along with members of the European Parliament. BFM TV reported that the court estimated that the European Parliament “a party responsible for actually working on the far right” would have a total damages of 2.9 million euros.
Reuters reported that state prosecutors called for the toughest punishment for Le Pen and other party officials, who would face a five-year ban on public office if found guilty in the second half of last year. However, it notes that judges can pass, modify or ignore the prosecutor’s request.
Before the verdict, Le Pen said she hopes the Paris Criminal Court judge will show leniency on Monday.
“I’m waiting for a decision,” Le Pen said in an interview with La Tribune Dimanchepublished on Saturday and translated by Google.
She added: “I read here and there that we are nervous. Personally, I’m not, but I know people may be: Through temporary execution, judges have a life-and-death power over our movement. But I don’t think they’re going that far.”
Le Pen’s trial has put a shadow on the strong revival of national gatherings in recent years. Last summer, the party won the first round of a wave of parliamentary elections before the country’s left-wing coalition won the second round.
France fell into political chaos last year after Macron suffered a crushing defeat in the EU election. The president then appointed centrist Michel Barnier to lead the minority Conservative government, but it turned out to be brief, as the government ultimately failed to get support from its 2025 budget plan from the left and right.
The new centrist government under Francois Bayrou successfully passed the budget after making concessions to the left, but was still vulnerable to political pressure from the left and right.
(tagstotranslate) Breaking news: Europe
