Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader of the Rassemblement National (RN) party in France, has vehemently criticized a court’s decision to ban her from running in the 2027 presidential election. Le Pen denounced the ban as a “political decision,” implying that the judiciary is biased against her and her party. This development comes after Le Pen was convicted of embezzlement and handed a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended and two to be served under home detention.
The court’s verdict also included a five-year ban on Le Pen holding public office, effectively ruling her out of the 2027 presidential race unless she successfully appeals the decision. Le Pen’s party has reacted strongly to the verdict, with Jordan Bardella, the president of the RN, claiming that French democracy has been “killed” by the court’s decision. The ban is likely to have significant implications for French politics, potentially reinforcing Le Pen’s narrative that the establishment is conspiring against her and her party.
The timing of the ban could not be more critical, as France grapples with a hung parliament and an unpopular president. The decision may embolden Le Pen’s supporters and create further divisions within the French political landscape. As Le Pen prepares to appeal the verdict, the country remains on high alert, awaiting the outcome of a decision that could shape the course of French politics for years to come.
