A Paris court has found French party leader Marine Le Pen guilty of the embezzlement of European Union funds - and now could face a ban from running for president.

The National Rally leader - along with eight other MEPs - were found guilty of using funds to pay off their party staff this morning. 

All will be sentenced later today.The prosecution pressed for Le Pen to be banned from public office for five years if she was found guilty - which means that she could be stopped from running for president altogether at the next French election in 2027.

<img data-id="fixed-image" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/marine-le-pen.jpg?id=59755216&amp;width=980" alt="Marine Le Pen" width="100%" height="auto">The National Rally leader - along with eight other MEPs - were found guilty of using funds to pay off their party staff this morningREUTERS

The prosecuting team had also urged the leader to be slapped with a five-year-long jail sentence. Such a sentence would spark significant upheaval in French politics. Le Pen has thrice come out as a frontrunner in the nation's previous presidential elections against Emmanuel Macron - and has since announced that 2027 would mark her final bid for the presidency.

The party leader will be sentenced later today{ai:summary}Marine Le Pen, leader of France's National Rally, has been found guilty of embezzling EU funds intended for party staff. She faces potential sentencing that could include a five-year ban from public office, jeopardizing her presidential aspirations for the 2027 election.The prosecution has also sought a five-year prison sentence, which could significantly impact the political landscape in France, as Le Pen has been a prominent contender in previous elections against Emmanuel Macron. #politics

Marine Le Pen faces BAN from public office after being found guilty of embezzling EU funds

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