Convicted Marine Le Pen, Disqualified As The Next French President
- Teo Drinkovic
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
A radical move by France that shatters the conservative Le Pen’s political career and dashes her dreams of presidency
Introduction
It appears that France has launched a frontal assault on its domestic far-right movement, and the first target is Marine Le Pen, leader of the French National Rally (Rassemblement National).
Observing the events in the USA with Donald Trump’s rise to power, French authorities seem determined to ensure that a similar outcome does not occur at home.
Crime and Punishment for Marine Le Pen
Marine Le Pen has been banned from running for public office for five years, and she has been sentenced to four years in prison plus a fine of 100,000 euros for misappropriating over 3 million euros in funds from the European Parliament.
Two years of the prison term have been converted to a suspended sentence, and it remains unclear whether she will serve the remainder of her sentence. In addition to Le Pen, 24 officials from her party have been charged, with eight—either former or current members—receiving a conviction.
Le Pen described the verdict as a “nuclear bomb,” while her party leader, Jordan Bardella, denounced it as “judicial tyranny,” comparing the situation to the exclusion of the “pro-Russian” candidate Calin Georgescu from the presidential elections in Romania.
Regardless of whether the sentence is served in prison or suspended, the verdict bars Le Pen from holding any political office, potentially disqualifying her from the 2027 French presidential race. As Le Pen (56) stated, this would be her final attempt after three previous unsuccessful runs.
This time, it seems she had a real chance and instilled deep fear in her opponents when they opted for such a severe penalty.
Naturally, Le Pen has denied the charges and any involvement in the case, claiming that the EU funds were used legitimately. Her lawyer, Rodolphe Bosselut, announced that she will appeal the court’s decision.
Support from Conservatives from Europe and the World
Many right-wing European leaders and politicians have sent messages of support to Le Pen. Matteo Salvini, Italy’s far-right deputy prime minister, declared, “We will not be intimidated, we will not stop—full speed ahead, my friend!” Meanwhile, Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik posted “Je suis Marine” on X (formerly Twitter).
Additional support has come from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, as well as from Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
Jordan Bardella further commented on the verdict, stating, “Today, injustice has not only struck Marine Le Pen; French democracy has been killed.”
Even voices from Russia have weighed in. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov remarked that European capitals are increasingly trampling democratic norms, showing little hesitation in overstepping the boundaries of democracy in their political processes.
The Martyrdom of a Modern-Day Joan of Arc
Under the current circumstances in France, Le Pen may never realize her dream of becoming president. However, she could emerge as a symbol of the global right—a rallying figure whose followers, including supporters of the American MAGA movement, might ride this wave to new victories.
She could become a modern-day Joan of Arc, a martyr who sacrificed everything for France’s freedom, as messages of support resonate worldwide alongside sharp criticisms of the political system that barred her from the 2027 presidential race.
Conclusion
Only time and a thorough investigation will reveal who is truly in the right. Even though Le Pen represents the far-right, it seems unjust for the French authorities to have manipulated the judicial process to end her political career.
As the birthplace of modern democracy, France should know that such actions are indefensible. Regardless of her guilt or innocence regarding the alleged misappropriation of EU funds, there was no justification for imposing a five-year ban on political activity that effectively destroys a political career.
Now, her European right-wing allies will try to portray her as a martyr sacrificed by globalist elites determined to prevent her rise to the presidency of one of Europe’s most powerful and influential nations—a development that will benefit no one.
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