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Paris – A court convicted French political leader Marine Le Pen of embezzling European Union funds. The Paris court banned her from holding political office for five years. This Marine Le Pen conviction follows findings related to misuse of EU money.
The court also ordered Le Pen to pay a €100,000 ($108,000) fine. Her party, National Rally (RN), must pay €2 million for its role in the €4.1 million embezzlement.
Court Imposes Prison Sentence and Political Ban
The Marine Le Pen conviction includes a four-year prison sentence. Two years of the sentence are suspended. Le Pen will serve the active part of her sentence under house arrest. Her lawyer stated that she will appeal the court’s decision. The five-year ban prevents Le Pen from seeking or holding any elected position during that period.
Judge Cites Attack on Democratic Rules
Presiding Judge Bénédicte de Perthuis explained the immediate political ban. She stated Le Pen’s actions were a “serious and lasting attack on the rules of democratic life in Europe, but especially in France.” The judge added allowing Le Pen to run for office again soon would cause “democratic public unrest.” This reasoning supported the necessity for the immediate political ban following the embezzlement findings. Further details on the party’s reaction can be found in our National Rally statement coverage.
