French far-right leader found guilty of embezzlement, sentence pending

A French court convicted far-right leader Marine Le Pen on charges of embezzlement of public funds in connection with a fake jobs scandal involving the European Parliament.

The ruling marks a significant setback for Le Pen’s political future, particularly her prospects for the 2027 presidential election, Caliber.Az reports citing French media.

The judge has yet to issue a final sentence, but prosecutors have requested severe penalties for Le Pen, including a five-year prison sentence—three years of which would be suspended—and a fine of €300,000. Additionally, they have called for a five-year ban on Le Pen from holding public office, which could effectively block her from running for president in the upcoming election.

Le Pen, leader of the far-right Rassemblement National (RN), was accused of hiring four fictitious assistants during her tenure as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 2004 to 2017. The assistants, who were paid by the European Parliament, allegedly carried out tasks unrelated to parliamentary duties, instead assisting with the management of Le Pen's political party, then known as Front National (FN).

Prosecutors allege that Le Pen was central to an organized and systematic embezzlement scheme that diverted funds from the EU to her party between 2004 and 2016. In the fall of 2024, Le Pen took the stand to defend herself, denying the existence of any such system and criticizing what she called “falsehoods” propagated by former colleagues, whom she accused of acting out of personal vengeance.

"This is my political death that's being demanded," Le Pen said in November 2024, referring to the potential consequences of a conviction that could derail her political ambitions.

Le Pen has long been a prominent figure in French politics, and this legal outcome could have profound ramifications for her future. If the court imposes the sanctions recommended by prosecutors, her ability to compete in the 2027 presidential race would be severely restricted, making this ruling a key moment in her political trajectory.

By Vafa Guliyeva