Who is Marine Le Pen? French far-right leader found guilty in graft trial

France’s far-right leader Marine Le Pen faced a seismic blow to her political career Monday after a Paris court convicted her of embezzling European Union funds, a ruling that could bar her from the 2027 presidential race.

The verdict, delivered after a years-long investigation, risks upending France’s political landscape as Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) party leads polls for the next election.

Le Pen, 56, a three-time presidential candidate, stormed out of the courtroom before her sentence was announced. Prosecutors had pushed for an immediate five-year ban from public office—a move she decried as a bid for her “political death,” echoing claims by former U.S. President Donald Trump that legal battles aim to block populist leaders from power.

The Charges: A “System” to Fund Party Operations

The court found Le Pen, eight former EU lawmakers, and 12 parliamentary aides guilty of diverting €6.8 million in EU funds between 2004 and 2016 to pay RN staff in France—not for legitimate EU parliamentary work. Judge Bénédicte de Perthuis declared the scheme a deliberate effort to “reduce the party’s costs,” adding, “These were not administrative errors but organized embezzlement.”

Le Pen, who shook her head in silent defiance during the ruling, denied wrongdoing. The RN insists the funds were used legally, arguing EU rules narrowly define aides’ roles.

Political Earthquake: What Happens Next?

While Le Pen retains her parliamentary seat until 2027, an upheld ban would crush her presidential ambitions. Prosecutors invoked a rare “provisional execution” measure to enforce the penalty during appeals, but judges could soften or reject it.

The ruling ignites fresh turmoil in French politics. Le Pen’s RN, rebranded from the National Front, has surged in popularity by tapping into anti-immigration sentiment and cost-of-living frustrations. Polls currently show her leading potential rivals like President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist allies and the left-wing coalition.

Le Pen’s Fiery Response

Le Pen, absent during sentencing, has framed the trial as a “political assassination” orchestrated to sideline her party. “They fear our vision for France,” she tweeted hours before the verdict. Supporters rallied outside the courthouse, chanting “Free Marine!”

Critics, however, hailed the ruling as accountability for far-right graft. “No one is above the law—not even those who claim to defend it,” said Macron ally Aurore Bergé.