The far-right French politician, Marine Le Pen, has been found guilty of embezzling funds from the European Parliament over a 12-year period.
With a decision that has shaken both French and European politics, the court in Paris has ruled that she cannot run for any public political position, which means it looks like she will be out of the race for the upcoming presidential elections, which must be held no later than the spring of 2027.
She left the courtroom without making any comments. Although she has the option to appeal the decision—any step could take years—there is a high possibility that this will mark the end of her political career.
Le Pen, who ran against the current president, Emmanuel Macron, in 2017 and 2022, was considered the favorite figure to become France’s first female president.
In 2022, she secured 41.5 percent of the vote in the second round, marking the best result ever for a far-right candidate in France’s presidential race.
Since Macron is barred from running for a third term, Le Pen was seen as the most recognizable figure for the upcoming elections, and early polls signaled that she would defeat other candidates from both the left and right.
What Will Happen to Far-Right Politics in France?
Jordan Bardella – who was appointed the official leader of the National Rally in 2021 and is considered Le Pen’s successor – remains unsullied by the scandal, at least directly.
But can Bardella possess the same magnetic appeal as Le Pen? At only 29 years old, he is considered very young and inexperienced.
While the National Rally managed to come first in the European Parliament elections last June, the party’s failure to repeat that success in the parliamentary elections held the same summer raised doubts about its stability.
It remains to be seen how the electorate will respond to this ruling.
Many politicians were shaken by the criticisms made earlier this year by U.S. Vice President JD Vance regarding the annulment of the first-round result of Romania’s presidential elections, after suspicions of Russian interference on behalf of the independent candidate, Calin Georgescu, who surprised everyone by coming first.
“We may expect similar blows this time around, as many members of the populist right will call this a ‘legal affair’ against politicians who are not considered ordinary, and Marine Le Pen has now become their ‘famous cause,’ which could push them to gain even more popularity.”
