French prosecutors want to lock up Le Pen

TT

Published 19.52

 

French far-right figure Marine Le Pen outside the courtroom on January 20. Photo: Michel Euler/AP/TT

French prosecutors are demanding that far-right politician Marine Le Pen be sentenced to four years in prison and banned from running in next year's presidential election.

The National Rally party has appealed last year's convictions for fraud with EU funds and the cases will now be heard in a higher court.

Marine Le Pen, 57, was sentenced to four years in prison, two of which are suspended. Last year's verdict also bars her from running in elections for five years. If it stands, she could likely give up her long-standing dreams of becoming president.

The court is not expected to rule on the appeal until later this spring or early this summer.