France's 'Far-Right Icon' Le Pen Blocked from Next Presidential Election Run

Marine Le Pen, leader of the French far-right and National Rally (RN) lawmaker considered the main rival to President Emmanuel Macron, has been immediately stripped of her eligibility to run for office for the next five years in the first trial over allegations of misappropriating public funds. If this ruling is not overturned before 2027, she will be unable to run in the next presidential election.

Reuters Yonhap News

On the 31st (local time), the Paris Criminal Court found Le Pen guilty of misusing European Union (EU) budget funds and sentenced her to four years in prison (with two years under house arrest wearing an electronic bracelet) and fined her 100,000 euros (approximately 150 million KRW), according to local media reports. Eight former RN Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) charged alongside Le Pen were also found guilty of embezzlement, and 12 aides were convicted of concealment.

The court, particularly accepting the prosecution’s request, immediately enforced the five-year ban on Le Pen’s eligibility to run for office. This means the ruling takes effect even before the final verdict is confirmed in higher courts. Le Pen, who advanced to the runoff in the last two presidential elections and was considered a leading candidate for the next election, will be barred from running if she fails to overturn this ruling in the appeals or final trial before the 2027 election.

Reuters Yonhap News

Previously, Le Pen and others were indicted for fabricating false documents to claim subsidies by pretending to have hired aides for their European Parliament activities from 2004 to 2016, but in reality, the funds were used to pay salaries for aides working for the party (embezzlement of public funds and conspiracy to commit fraud). Le Pen served as an MEP from 2004 to 2017. The court ruled that Le Pen and RN officials misappropriated a total of 2.9 million euros (4.6 billion KRW) of European Parliament funds over 11 years, stating that "the European Parliament bore the costs for people who actually worked for the far-right party."

Furthermore, the court explained that when including additional damages caused by their crimes, the European Parliament’s total loss amounts to 4.1 million euros (7.1 billion KRW). Of this, the court recognized that Le Pen misappropriated 474,000 euros (700 million KRW) and noted that she was at the "core" of this criminal structure from 2009 onward.

As a result of this sentencing, Le Pen and the RN, who had been aiming for the presidency, have suffered a severe political blow. Unlike her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, who attracted criticism for hateful remarks and erratic behavior, Marine Le Pen adopted a moderate strategy after 2010 to grow the party. She was the first far-right politician to reach the French presidential runoff twice consecutively in 2017 (with 33.9% of the vote) and 2022 (41.46%), expanding her support and threatening President Emmanuel Macron. Following last year’s early parliamentary elections triggered by Macron’s dissolution of the National Assembly, the RN secured 123 seats, the largest number for a single party, raising speculation that Marine Le Pen could seize the presidency. However, given the ruling recognized not only Le Pen’s conviction but also the RN’s organized criminal activity, the party is expected to face significant difficulties in future operations and expanding its influence.

Upon the court’s immediate ruling to strip her eligibility to run for office, Le Pen left the courtroom with a stern expression without listening to the detailed sentencing and other orders, and moved to the party headquarters.