A French court on Monday convicted far-right leader Marine Le Pen of embezzling European Union funds, sentencing her to four years in prison, with two years suspended, and barring her from holding public office for five years.
The ruling effectively disqualifies Le Pen from running in the 2027 presidential election, a race in which she had been considered a leading contender. Le Pen, 56, has denied any wrongdoing and vowed to appeal the decision, calling the verdict politically motivated.
“Let’s be clear, I am eliminated, but in reality, it’s millions of French people whose voices have been silenced,” Le Pen said in a primetime television interview with TF1. “Tonight, millions of French citizens are outraged, seeing that in France, the country of human rights, judges have implemented practices we thought were reserved for authoritarian regimes.”
Le Pen’s lawyer confirmed that an appeal would be filed, though she expressed doubts it would be heard before the next election.
Political Fallout and Reactions
The ruling has sparked significant political debate in France and beyond. Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X (formerly Twitter), criticized the conviction, saying, “When the radical left can’t win via democratic vote, they abuse the legal system to jail their opponents. This is their standard playbook throughout the world.”
Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro echoed Musk’s sentiment, calling the court’s ruling an example of “left-wing judicial activism.” Bolsonaro, who faces his own legal battles in Brazil, claimed that right-wing politicians globally are being targeted through the courts.
Reactions in Le Pen’s Stronghold
In Henin-Beaumont, a northern French town considered a National Rally stronghold, reactions were mixed. Pascal Walkowiak, a local resident, said he was disappointed by the verdict. “It’s a shame because we needed a different president. We needed the RN (National Rally) to win. Considering the mess in France, it might be time for things to get sorted.”
Another resident, Isabelle, 60, supported the court’s decision. “Too bad for her. I think it’s a good thing because she made mistakes. She can’t represent us,” she said.
Others were indifferent. “Oh well, it’s not a problem for me. I don’t deal with politics,” said Gerard, 60.
National Rally’s Parliamentary Standing
Despite the legal setback, Le Pen’s National Rally party remains a dominant force in the French parliament, holding the most seats among all parties.
Here’s a breakdown of parliamentary seats:
Rassemblement National (National Rally): 123 seats
Ensemble pour la République: 94 seats
Nouveau Front Populaire: 71 seats
Socialists and Allies: 66 seats
Droite Républicaine: 47 seats
Écologiste et Social: 38 seats
Les Démocrates: 36 seats
Horizons & Indépendants: 33 seats
Libertés, Indépendants, Outre-mer et Territoires: 23 seats
Gauche Démocrate et Républicaine: 17 seats
UDR: 16 seats
Le Pen’s appeal will determine whether she remains sidelined from the 2027 election. Until then, the political landscape in France remains uncertain as the country grapples with the implications of her conviction.
