France is in turmoil after a court ruling barred Marine Le Pen, the far-right National Rally (RN) leader, from running for public office for five years. The decision, which found her guilty of embezzling €4 million in EU funds, has sparked outrage among her supporters, with RN president Jordan Bardella calling for nationwide protests this weekend.
Why Was Le Pen Banned?
A Paris court ruled that Le Pen and her associates misused EU funds meant for parliamentary assistants, instead diverting the money to pay party staff in France. While the defendants didn’t personally profit, the court deemed the scheme illegal.
The judge, Bénédicte de Perthuis, cited Le Pen’s lack of remorse as a key factor in the harsh sentence:
- Four-year prison sentence (two years suspended, two under house arrest)
- €100,000 fine
- Five-year ban from holding office
Le Pen, who denies wrongdoing, called the ruling “politically motivated” and vowed to appeal.
Far-Right Fury: Protests Planned
RN leaders are framing the verdict as an attack on democracy. Bardella, who could now become the party’s 2027 presidential candidate, urged the French to “be outraged” and announced peaceful demonstrations this weekend.
Le Pen, however, isn’t stepping aside quietly. “I’m not going to let myself be eliminated like this,” she declared, signaling a fierce legal and political battle ahead.
Public Reaction: Divided France
An Elabe poll revealed a split in public opinion:
- 57% believe the ruling was justified.
- 42% see it as politically biased.
- 42% approve of the ban, while 29% oppose it.
In Le Pen’s northern stronghold of Hénin-Beaumont, reactions were mixed. One resident lamented, “We needed the RN to win,” while another shrugged, “She made mistakes—she can’t represent us.”
What’s Next?
With appeals likely dragging on for months or even years, the ban may not immediately impact Le Pen’s political ambitions. However, the ruling weakens her 2027 presidential bid and could reshape France’s far-right movement.
Will protests erupt? Could Bardella take the reins? One thing is clear: France’s political landscape just got a lot more unpredictable.
