French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been sentenced to four years in prison, two of which were suspended, and banned from participating in elections for five years with immediate effect, France Info reports, UNN writes.
Details
The prosecution requested a five-year prison sentence for the leader of the National Rally deputies, three of which were suspended, as well as a five-year disqualification with a suspended sentence.
Her candidacy in the 2027 presidential election is compromised, the newspaper writes. The decision may mean that Le Pen will not be able to run for president in the 2027 election.
On Monday, March 31, the court found Marine Le Pen and eight MEPs guilty of embezzling public funds in the case of parliamentary assistants from the National Front party (The National Rally).
The court sentenced the former French presidential candidate to four years in prison, two of which were suspended, a fine of 100,000 euros and a five-year disqualification, the decision came into force immediately
Without waiting for the verdict, Marine Le Pen "noisily left the courtroom," the newspaper writes.
The leader of the RN deputies, "who stood at the center of this system since the beginning of 2009", which she "entered with authority and determination", was also found guilty of complicity in the embezzlement of public funds, according to the court. The party was also fined 2 million euros, 1 million of which was payable in full.