Le Pen of France Receives Four-Year Jail Sentence
A Paris court has sentenced French right-wing politician Marine Le Pen to a four-year prison term, half of which is without parole, stemming from embezzlement charges related to EU funds allocated for her National Rally party. Alongside this...
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A Paris court has sentenced French right-wing politician Marine Le Pen to a four-year prison term, half of which is without parole, stemming from embezzlement charges related to EU funds allocated for her National Rally party. Alongside this sentence, Le Pen has been prohibited from running for president in 2027.
The verdict, handed down on Monday, concludes a lengthy case in which the National Rally (RN) and several senior members were accused of misappropriating funds intended for the offices of European Parliament members, funneling them into the party's national structure. Le Pen, along with eight Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), was found guilty of executing this scheme from 2004 to 2016.
The prosecution's request for a five-year ban on participating in elections was granted by the court and takes effect immediately, regardless of any appeal. The highest French Constitutional Court recently affirmed the legality of such penalties in a separate ruling.
Reports indicate that Le Pen may serve half of her sentence under home confinement with an ankle bracelet. Co-defendants in the case received prison sentences ranging from 12 months to three years.
Jordan Bardella, president of the RN, criticized the ruling on X, describing it as “unjust” and an execution of French democracy.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban expressed his support for Le Pen, posting “I am Marine” in French while tagging her account on X.
While Le Pen resigned as head of the RN in favor of Bardella in 2022, she continues to lead its faction in the National Assembly. Often labeled “far-right” by critics, she has accused the EU of mishandling illegal immigration issues and has voiced opposition to its support for Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia.
As part of the court's ruling, the RN was also ordered to forfeit already-seized funds and pay a fine totaling €2 million.
Lucas Dupont for TROIB News
The verdict, handed down on Monday, concludes a lengthy case in which the National Rally (RN) and several senior members were accused of misappropriating funds intended for the offices of European Parliament members, funneling them into the party's national structure. Le Pen, along with eight Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), was found guilty of executing this scheme from 2004 to 2016.
The prosecution's request for a five-year ban on participating in elections was granted by the court and takes effect immediately, regardless of any appeal. The highest French Constitutional Court recently affirmed the legality of such penalties in a separate ruling.
Reports indicate that Le Pen may serve half of her sentence under home confinement with an ankle bracelet. Co-defendants in the case received prison sentences ranging from 12 months to three years.
Jordan Bardella, president of the RN, criticized the ruling on X, describing it as “unjust” and an execution of French democracy.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban expressed his support for Le Pen, posting “I am Marine” in French while tagging her account on X.
While Le Pen resigned as head of the RN in favor of Bardella in 2022, she continues to lead its faction in the National Assembly. Often labeled “far-right” by critics, she has accused the EU of mishandling illegal immigration issues and has voiced opposition to its support for Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia.
As part of the court's ruling, the RN was also ordered to forfeit already-seized funds and pay a fine totaling €2 million.
Lucas Dupont for TROIB News
