Le Pen found guilty in Paris court

(MENAFN) Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s right-wing National Rally, was recently found guilty in a Paris court of embezzling European Union funds, leading to a five-year ban from running for office. The charges, dating back to 2014, allege that Le Pen used EU funds to pay aides who performed party work. Along with a fine, she was sentenced to two years of home detention with electronic monitoring. This ruling conveniently disqualifies her from the 2027 presidential election.

The timing of this decision has fueled suspicions that the French judiciary is targeting anti-establishment figures like Le Pen, who polls suggest would win the presidency if the election were held today. Many believe this legal action only strengthens her position by portraying her as a martyr of a political system that seeks to limit citizens' democratic choices.

The law allowing the disqualification of candidates based on accusations like fraud or corruption wasn't enacted until 2017, around the time Le Pen was under investigation. François Bayrou, a Macron ally, was the law’s main advocate until he himself was accused of a similar EU fund misuse, resulting in his brief removal as Macron's justice minister.

Le Pen is not the only political leader facing legal challenges. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a left-wing leader, is also under investigation for similar charges, suggesting that France’s political system is using legal measures to sideline its rivals, regardless of their political ideology.

MENAFN07042025000045015687ID1109397119