<picture class="article__media"> <img src="https://img.lemde.fr/2025/03/31/0/0/3753/2502/664/0/75/0/eceafc1_ftp-import-images-1-0yely51ggn4z-5478379-01-06.jpg" alt="Images Le Monde.fr" width="100%" height="auto"> </picture> <noscript> <img src="https://img.lemde.fr/2025/03/31/0/0/3753/2502/664/0/75/0/eceafc1_ftp-import-images-1-0yely51ggn4z-5478379-01-06.jpg" alt="Marine Le Pen at the Paris courthouse on March 31, 2025."> </noscript> <figcaption class="article__legend" aria-hidden="true">Marine Le Pen at the Paris courthouse on March 31, 2025. ALAIN JOCARD / AFP </figcaption>

A French court on Monday, March 31, convicted far-right leader Marine Le Pen on charges of embezzlement of public funds over a fake jobs scam at the EU parliament, a ruling which could derail her 2027 presidential hopes. The judge has yet to issue a sentence.

The leader of the Rassemblement National (RN) faces a five-year prison sentence, three of which would be suspended, and a fine of €300,000, according to the prosecutors' requests. She also faces a five-year ban on seeking public office, which could prevent her from running for president in 2027. "It's my political death that's being demanded," she said, in November 2024.

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Le Monde with AFP

The judge has yet to issue a sentence, after prosecutors last year requested to impose a five-year ban on running for public office against Le Pen.{ai:summary}Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right Rassemblement National, has been convicted of embezzlement of public funds related to a fake jobs scheme at the EU parliament. This ruling poses a significant threat to her 2027 presidential ambitions.She faces a potential five-year prison sentence, a €300,000 fine, and a five-year ban from public office, which could effectively end her political career. Le Pen has described the situation as a demand for her "political death." #politics

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen found guilty of embezzlement of public funds

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