Marine Le Pen Condemns Presidential Ban as a ‘Political Decision’ Following Conviction

Paris, France: Far-right leader Marine Le Pen has fiercely denounced a Paris court ruling that bans her from running for the French presidency in 2027, calling it a “denial of democracy.”

Le Pen, the leader of the National Rally (RN) party, was convicted of embezzling European Parliament funds on a large scale. The court sentenced her to four years in prison, though two years were suspended, and she will serve the remainder under electronic monitoring rather than behind bars. Additionally, she was fined €100,000 (£84,000) and barred from holding public office for five years, effectively blocking her presidential ambitions.

Expressing outrage, Le Pen announced her intention to appeal, vowing to exhaust all legal avenues to fight what she perceives as an unjust ruling.

“I will not submit to this denial of democracy,” she told TF1 television on Monday. “I am innocent and will continue to challenge this ruling.”

Despite the conviction, the court acknowledged that Le Pen did not personally benefit from the embezzlement.

Her party, the National Rally, condemned the sentence as a political attack, with RN President Jordan Bardella describing it as a “death blow to French democracy.” Bardella, 29, is now seen as a possible replacement candidate for the 2027 presidential race, though his political inexperience remains a concern.

The verdict sparked a global response, with Donald Trump weighing in on the controversy.

“This is a very big deal,” the U.S. President remarked. “She was the leading candidate, and now she’s banned. That sounds very much like what’s happening in this country.” Trump’s comments alluded to his own legal troubles before his return to office.

Elon Musk, the billionaire Tesla CEO and an influential figure in Trump’s administration, also reacted, warning that the conviction would “backfire, just like the legal attacks against President Trump.”

The ruling has sent shockwaves through French politics, as Le Pen had been preparing for a fourth presidential bid with hopes of capitalizing on her anti-immigration agenda.

In response, the RN has launched a nationwide petition and a leafleting campaign to rally support for Le Pen. Bardella urged peaceful mobilization, declaring that “the will of the people is stronger.”

The ban on running for office takes effect immediately, even as Le Pen moves forward with her appeal process, which could take years. The prison sentence and fine, however, will not be enforced until all appeals are exhausted.

During the verdict reading, Le Pen remained composed, though she later shook her head in disagreement as the judge detailed how her party had illegally used European funds. At one point, she quietly muttered “Incredible” before abruptly leaving the courtroom before her sentence was even announced.

Le Pen had previously considered the 2027 election as her best shot at securing the presidency. Now, her political future remains uncertain as her party and supporters push back against what they see as a politically motivated attack.

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