Marine Le Pen Found Guilty in Embezzlement Case, Political Future Uncertain

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was found guilty Monday in an embezzlement case involving the misuse of European Union funds, as per The Associated Press.

The Paris court’s verdict leaves Le Pen’s political future hanging in the balance, particularly as the potential sentence could include a ban on holding office, jeopardizing her chances of running for president in 2027.

Le Pen, present in court as the verdict was read, showed no immediate reaction. Eight other current or former members of her National Rally party, all of whom previously served as members of the European Parliament, were also found guilty.

The defendants face up to 10 years in prison and can appeal the ruling, which would trigger a new trial. However, the most immediate threat to Le Pen’s political career is the possibility of the court declaring her ineligible to run for office, “with immediate effect,” even pending an appeal. Le Pen has previously described such a scenario as “political death.”

The case centers on accusations that Le Pen and 24 other National Rally officials misused funds intended for European Parliament aides between 2004 and 2016. Prosecutors alleged that the money was used to pay staff who were actually working for the party, then known as the National Front, in violation of EU regulations. Le Pen and her co-defendants have consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Le Pen, 56, has been a prominent figure in French politics for years, finishing as runner-up to President Emmanuel Macron in both the 2017 and 2022 presidential elections. Her party’s electoral support has grown significantly in recent years.

During the nine-week trial that took place in late 2024, Le Pen argued that a ban on holding office “would have the effect of depriving me of being a presidential candidate” and disenfranchise her supporters. With the 2027 presidential election looming, her potential disqualification could significantly alter the political landscape.

Should Le Pen be unable to run, her seeming natural successor would be Jordan Bardella, Le Pen’s 29-year-old protégé who succeeded her as head of the National Rally in 2021.

Le Pen refuted accusations that she was at the head of “a system” designed to siphon off EU parliament funds to benefit her party, which she led from 2011 to 2021. She maintained that it was acceptable to adapt the work of aides paid by the European Parliament to the needs of the lawmakers, including politically sensitive work related to the party.

Testimony presented during the hearings revealed that some EU funds were allegedly used to pay for Le Pen’s bodyguard, who had previously served as her father’s bodyguard, as well as her personal assistant.

Prosecutors had requested a two-year prison sentence and a five-year period of ineligibility for Le Pen, a move she condemned as being “only interested” in preventing her from running for president.