Marine Le Pen, a lawmaker leading the far-right National Rally (RN) in France, was deprived of her electoral rights by a court on the 31st (local time). She was convicted in a case involving the misappropriation of European Union (EU) funds. Le Pen, who was planning to challenge in the fourth presidential election in 2027, protested that it was a political decision aimed at blocking her candidacy.
According to reports, Le Pen appeared on TF1 channel that night and stated regarding the first instance ruling, "I am innocent."
Earlier, the Paris Criminal Court found Le Pen and other RN officials guilty of fraudulently obtaining subsidies by hiring assistants for their activities in the European Parliament from 2004 to 2016 while presenting false documents, instead using the funds to pay staff who actually worked for the party.
Accordingly, Le Pen was sentenced to four years in prison (with two years under house arrest with an electronic bracelet) and a fine of 100,000 euros (approximately 150 million won), along with a five-year deprivation of electoral rights. The court specifically accepted the prosecution's request and immediately enforced the five-year deprivation of her electoral rights. The effect of the first instance ruling remains in place regardless of whether an appeal is made.
Since the next presidential election in France is scheduled to be held in April or May 2027, if she cannot suspend the effect of her deprivation of electoral rights in the appeals court before then, Le Pen will not be able to run for the presidency.
Le Pen remarked, "The judge said he would immediately deprive my electoral rights, going against the rule of law. This makes my appeal pointless so that I cannot run and win in the presidential election,” adding, "If this is not a political decision, I don't know what is."
She also expressed, "I think the judges have ignored all explanations from the beginning," and noted, "I knew from the first day that I would be judged in a biased manner. (Yet) I never thought the judges would go so far against democratic processes to interfere with the choice of the French people."
Le Pen continued, stating she would appeal "as soon as possible," pointing out, "Millions of French people are angry tonight. They are unimaginably furious that judges enacted practices deemed the exclusive property of a dictatorial regime in a country where human rights are guaranteed."
She added, "It is the day when a judge robbed millions of French citizens of a candidate expected to win in the presidential election," calling it "a dark day for democracy and the state."
Le Pen commented on the possibility of Jordan Bardella, the party's chairman, as an alternative for RN if she cannot eventually run in the presidential election, stating, "Bardella is an immense asset for the party," expressing her hope that "this asset is not used prematurely."
Some are speculating that if Bardella runs as a substitute candidate and wins the presidential election, Le Pen could be appointed as prime minister. Le Pen responded, saying, "I am not in that state of mind. I am not ready to succumb to denying democracy so easily," asserting, "We should not get used to such situations."
Le Pen also drew the line at retirement, stating, "In a democracy, voters decide. I came to convey this message," assuring her supporters, "Do not worry. I am not despondent."