French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been found guilty of embezzling EU funds to finance her party, the National Rally. As per reports, this case against the RN leader could result in her being barred from contesting the 2027 Presidential elections.
Along with Le Pen, a French court also found eight members of the far-right party guilty, who have also served as members or are members of the European Parliament.
Prosecutors in the case stated last year that Le Pen's punishment should not be restricted to fines and a prison term, but also declare her ineligible to run for public office.
As per reports, Le Pen and her co-defendants face upto 10 years in prison and a fine of €300,000 (£250,000).
In addition, Le Pen is also barred from running in 2027 elections.
Le Pen and 20 other senior party figures have been accused of hiring assistants who worked on the RN's affairs rather than for the European Parliament, which paid the members.
Le Pen's National Rally recorded a major victory in the 2024 EU Elections, where RN's vote margin prompted President Emmanuel Macron to call for snap elections.
“There are 11 million people who voted for the movement I represent. So tomorrow, potentially, millions and millions of French people would see themselves deprived of their candidate in the election,” she told the panel of three judges, as per France 24.
If Le Pen is barred from running in the race, 29-year-old protege Jordan Bardella is expected to take her place as the party leader and contest the elections.
In a seperate hearing, the Constitutional Council also ruled on Friday that imposing the punishment immediately was "constitutional."
