Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s far-right National Rally, was found guilty of misappropriation of public funds on Monday, in a ruling that could upend her political career and ambitions for the 2027 presidential race.
The Paris court’s verdict, which also implicated eight National Rally MEPs and their twelve assistants, marks a significant blow to the controversial politician, whose influence has steadily grown in recent years. Le Pen, along with 24 members of her party, stood accused of embezzling European Parliament funds meant for parliamentary aides, instead using the money to pay party staff over a four-year period.
The court estimated that the European Parliament suffered a total financial loss of €2.9 million, with Le Pen herself allegedly misappropriating €474,000. As the verdict was delivered, Le Pen, dressed in a navy-blue suit, was seen shaking her head in visible disapproval.
The judge, explaining the decision, acknowledged that Le Pen had not personally profited from the scheme but argued that her party had. “There was no personal enrichment … but there was the enrichment of a party,” the judge stated, highlighting that such financial practices contravened party funding regulations.
While the court has yet to announce the full sentences for each of the accused, the implications for Le Pen’s political future are stark. The prosecution had recommended that she receive a €300,000 fine, a prison sentence of up to ten years, and, crucially, a five-year ban from holding public office. Such a ruling would prevent her from standing in the 2027 presidential election, potentially ending her political career.
However, the three-judge panel is not bound by the prosecution’s recommendations. They may opt for a more lenient approach, such as reducing the duration of ineligibility or allowing Le Pen to appeal while remaining eligible to run for office. Should they impose the full five-year ban, the ruling would likely be seen as a fatal blow to Le Pen’s aspirations, which she has described as “political death.”
Le Pen, for her part, has sought to downplay concerns that the court will bar her from public office immediately. Speaking to La Tribune Dimanche on Sunday, she said: “Personally, I’m not nervous. But I can see why people think I might be.”
“The judges have the power of life or death over the movement. But I don’t think they will go so far as to do it,” she added, expressing confidence that her ability to contest the next election would remain intact.
Le Pen and her co-defendants have denied any wrongdoing, arguing that they merely adapted the work of parliamentary aides to suit the needs of the party’s lawmakers. “I absolutely don’t feel I have committed the slightest irregularity, the slightest illegal move,” Le Pen testified during the trial.
Her legal team is expected to appeal any ruling that includes a ban from office, potentially dragging the case through the courts for years. Such a move could allow Le Pen to continue her political career in the interim, much like other French politicians who have navigated legal troubles while remaining in public life.
Nevertheless, the case represents a major reputational challenge. Even if Le Pen avoids immediate political ineligibility, the damage to her credibility could be severe, particularly among more moderate right-wing voters she has sought to court in recent years. With her party striving to appear as a legitimate governing alternative to President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist movement, a high-profile corruption scandal is hardly an asset.
Political Ramifications for the Far Right
Beyond Le Pen’s personal fate, the verdict raises broader questions about the future of the National Rally. Should she be barred from running, the party would be forced to identify a new standard-bearer for the 2027 race. Jordan Bardella, the 28-year-old president of the party and a close Le Pen ally, is widely seen as her natural successor. However, without Le Pen’s personal brand and established political experience, the party could struggle to maintain its recent electoral gains.
Le Pen has spent years attempting to detoxify the image of her party, previously known as the National Front under her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen. She has distanced herself from its past associations with racism and antisemitism, focusing instead on issues such as immigration and national sovereignty to attract a broader voter base. Whether her legal troubles will undo this work remains to be seen.
For now, all eyes remain on the Paris courtroom as the judges prepare to deliver their final sentences. If they decide to enforce a ban from public office, it could spell the end of Marine Le Pen’s political journey—a dramatic turn for a figure who has long been a formidable force in French politics.
Regardless of the outcome, the case underscores the legal and ethical challenges facing the National Rally as it seeks to position itself as a viable governing force. The verdict may not only determine Le Pen’s fate but could also reshape the trajectory of France’s far-right movement for years to come.
