Marine Le Pen’s Sentence: A Turning Point in French Politics
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IMAGE: Marine Le Pen, head of the National Rally deputies, on January 22, 2025 at the National Assembly. (Source:Thibaud Moritz, AFP)
France: On Monday, March 31, the Paris court issued its ruling, sentencing Marine Le Pen, the leader of the right-wing National Rally, to four years in prison, two of which will have to be served under electronic monitoring, along with an immediate five-year ban from holding office. Additionally, she received a five-year ineligibility sentence, which is to be enforced immediately, a process referred to as provisional execution.
This exceptional measure allows a judge to enforce a sentence right away, regardless of whether the convicted individual chooses to appeal. Typically, when a sentence is appealed, its effects are paused until the appellate court hears the case and renders a decision. However, despite Marine Le Pen’s intention to appeal the ruling, the court’s decision to impose the ineligibility penalty will remain in effect for five years.
The National Front and its leadership were convicted of establishing a scheme involving fake employment positions within the European Parliament from 2004 to 2016, aimed at augmenting the party’s financial resources. This outcome has provoked significant frustration among conservative politicians, as it prevents Marine Le Pen from running in the upcoming French presidential election unless she is acquitted on appeal. For now, the punishment has been handed down….
Valentin Ledroit reports for Toute l’Europe…
FN assistants in the European Parliament case: Marine Le Pen sentenced to four years in prison, two of which are firm, and five years of ineligibility
A Paris court has found the leader of the National Rally and eight other former MEPs guilty of embezzlement of public funds. The provisional execution of Marine Le Pen’s sentence could put an end to her hopes of running in the next presidential election.
More than just a verdict was expected at the Paris Judicial Court on Monday, March 31. Following a trial that began last September, Marine Le Pen was found guilty of misappropriation of public funds in the case of the assistants of the National Front (which became the National Rally in 2018) in the European Parliament. The far-right leader was sentenced to four years in prison, two of which are firm, subject to the option of an electronic bracelet, and a fine of €100,000.
These sanctions are supplemented by a five-year ineligibility sentence, with provisional execution. While Marine Le Pen retains her mandate as MP for Pas-de-Calais, she is not allowed to run in any elections in the next five years, including the 2027 presidential election.
This is at least the case pending a new decision. In the event of an appeal, a new judgment could be issued in 2026, with a decision before the election campaign. If the Court decides to acquit the far-right MP, she could then run again. Another option: refer the matter to the Constitutional Council to challenge, via a priority question of constitutionality, the violation of her fundamental rights.
In addition to Marine Le Pen, numerous senior figures from the National Rally (RN) have been convicted in this case, which began in 2015. Eight other MEPs and twelve assistants at the time of the events also received prison sentences and were barred from standing for election. The total damages are estimated at €4.6 million.
A “system” of embezzlement of public funds
The National Front and its leaders at the time were found guilty of organizing a system of fictitious jobs in the European Parliament between 2004 and 2016, in order to replenish the party’s coffers. Paid with funds intended for parliamentary assistants, several individuals did not (or only very little) work for the MEPs to whom they were attached, but rather for the party’s activities.
Court president Bénédicte de Perthuis acknowledged that the nine MEPs and twelve parliamentary assistants had signed ” fictitious contracts ” and were therefore participating in the ” system ” implemented by the party. ” It was established that all these people were actually working for the party, that their MP had not entrusted them with any tasks,” and that they “were moving from one MP to another. […] It was not a matter of pooling the work of the assistants but rather of pooling the MPs’ budgets,” she added.
Penalties of ineligibility
Marine Le Pen is not the only one to be sanctioned with a sentence of ineligibility. Still an MEP but now under the banner of the European Conservatives and Reformists ( ECR ), Nicolas Bay received a twelve-month sentence, six of which are to be served under electronic monitoring. He also received a fine of €8,000 and three years of ineligibility with provisional execution. This sanction does not, however, oblige him to resign from his position in the European Parliament.
Former National Front number two Bruno Gollnisch also received a three-year prison sentence, including one year of electronic monitoring, as well as a €50,000 fine. Like Marine Le Pen, he is barred from standing for election for five years, subject to provisional execution.
Finally, Perpignan Mayor Louis Aliot was sentenced to 18 months in prison, six of which are to be served with an electronic tag, as well as a €8,000 fine and three years of ineligibility, but without any provisional execution. He was also not forced to resign ” to preserve the freedom of the voters who chose their mayor,” the president of the Paris court announced.
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Header featured image (edited) credit: WP open card. Emphasis added by (TLB)
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