Marine Le Pen Convicted of Embezzlement, Five-Year Public Office Ban Impacts 2027 Presidential Race

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was found guilty of embezzlement on Monday and received an immediate five-year ban from holding public office, a sentence that could prevent her from running in the 2027 presidential election unless a successful appeal occurs beforehand.
This ruling represents a significant setback for Le Pen, the National Rally (RN) party chief, and a leading contender in opinion polls for the 2027 election.
Le Pen, the RN, and two dozen party members were accused of misusing over 4 million euros ($4.33 million) of European Parliament funds to pay staff based in France. They argued that the funds were used legitimately and that the allegations narrowly defined the role of a parliamentary assistant.
Judge Benedicte de Perthuis stated that Le Pen was “at the heart” of the scheme.
Le Pen’s exclusion from the race is likely to intensify the debate in France regarding judicial oversight of politics.
Since her initial defeat to Macron in 2017, Le Pen has worked to soften her image, steering her party towards the political mainstream and presenting herself as a potential leader rather than a radical anti-establishment figure.
She currently leads the largest party in the National Assembly.
The judges also sentenced Le Pen to a four-year prison term, with two years suspended, and a 100,000 euro fine. She is expected to appeal, and neither of these penalties will be enforced until her appeals are exhausted.
However, her five-year ineligibility sentence takes effect immediately, through a “provisional execution” measure requested by prosecutors, and will only be overturned if an appeal is successful before the election. She retains her parliamentary seat until her term ends.
Arnaud Benedetti, a political analyst who has written a book on the RN, described Le Pen’s five-year ban as a pivotal moment in French politics that will have repercussions across parties and among voters.
“This is a seismic political event,” he said. “It will inevitably reshape the political landscape, particularly on the right.”
Appeals in France can take months or even years.
RN President Jordan Bardella, Le Pen’s 29-year-old associate, now appears poised to become the party’s de facto candidate for the 2027 election.
While he has helped broaden the RN’s appeal among younger voters, experts question whether he has the experience to win over the wider electorate needed for victory in 2027.
“I am not sure that Jordan Bardella’s political proposition is mature enough to compete credibly in the presidential election,” Benedetti said.