Le Pen Sentenced to Prison – Banned from 2027 Elections
The French far-right National Rally party leader Marine Le Pen has been convicted of fraud, AFP reports. She has been sentenced to four years in prison and banned from running for public office for five years.
The verdict comes into effect immediately, according to AFP, and means she will not be able to run in the 2027 presidential election.
The National Rally leader has been accused of using money that was supposed to go to assistants in the European Parliament to pay political officials in national French politics. Eight of the party's MEPs are also included in the sentence.
“The crime was precisely an attack on the rules of the democratic game to the detriment of the voters,” the court declared.
The French far-right National Rally party leader Marine Le Pen has been convicted of fraud, AFP reports. She has been sentenced to four years in prison and banned from running for public office for five years.
The verdict comes into effect immediately, according to AFP, and means she will not be able to run in the 2027 presidential election.
The National Rally leader has been accused of using money that was supposed to go to assistants in the European Parliament to pay political officials in national French politics. Eight of the party's MEPs are also included in the sentence.
“The crime was precisely an attack on the rules of the democratic game to the detriment of the voters,” the court declared.
Le Pen’s lawyer: We will appeal the verdict
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen will appeal the verdict, her lawyer Rodolphe Bosselut announced, according to Le Monde.
“This is a blow to democracy,” he said during a brief press conference.
Le Pen is expected to make her own statement on French television at 8 p.m. tonight.
The 56-year-old leader of the National Rally was sentenced today to four years in prison, two of which are suspended, and a hefty fine for fraud with EU funds.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen will appeal the verdict, her lawyer Rodolphe Bosselut announced, according to Le Monde.
“This is a blow to democracy,” he said during a brief press conference.
Le Pen is expected to make her own statement on French television at 8 p.m. tonight.
The 56-year-old leader of the National Rally was sentenced today to four years in prison, two of which are suspended, and a hefty fine for fraud with EU funds.
Report: Prime Minister “disturbed” by the verdict
Privately, French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou is “disturbed” by the verdict against Marine Le Pen. A source close to Bayrou told the AFP news agency.
The source added that the prime minister, however, has no intention of publicly commenting on the far-right leader's prison sentence and fine.
Le Pen herself is expected to comment on the verdict on French television on Monday night. Her lawyer has said she will appeal.
Bayrou belongs to the center-right Modem party, which is part of President Macron's governing Ensemble coalition.
Privately, French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou is “disturbed” by the verdict against Marine Le Pen. A source close to Bayrou told the AFP news agency.
The source added that the prime minister, however, has no intention of publicly commenting on the far-right leader's prison sentence and fine.
Le Pen herself is expected to comment on the verdict on French television on Monday night. Her lawyer has said she will appeal.
Bayrou belongs to the center-right Modem party, which is part of President Macron's governing Ensemble coalition.
Le Pen: I am innocent – the verdict is political
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has made an initial statement about the verdict against her. She calls it unlawful and says she is innocent.
– The court made a political decision. They are deliberately trying to prevent me from running in 2027, she says on French television.
Le Pen was sentenced earlier today to four years in prison, two of which are suspended, and a hefty fine for fraud with EU funds. The verdict means that she is not allowed to run in the 2027 presidential election.
Legal experts expect that Le Pen will challenge the ban on running – technically it is possible that the verdicts will have time to be overturned before the presidential election, writes TT.
Le Pen's lawyer has announced that she will appeal the verdict.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has made an initial statement about the verdict against her. She calls it unlawful and says she is innocent.
– The court made a political decision. They are deliberately trying to prevent me from running in 2027, she says on French television.
Le Pen was sentenced earlier today to four years in prison, two of which are suspended, and a hefty fine for fraud with EU funds. The verdict means that she is not allowed to run in the 2027 presidential election.
Legal experts expect that Le Pen will challenge the ban on running – technically it is possible that the verdicts will have time to be overturned before the presidential election, writes TT.
Le Pen's lawyer has announced that she will appeal the verdict.
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