The National Rally party in France has strongly criticized the recent court decision against Marine Le Pen, claiming it to be politically motivated. Jordan Bardella, the party's president, expressed his outrage over the verdict, which found Le Pen guilty of misusing European Union funds.
Le Pen was convicted of embezzling EU funds and received a five-year ban from holding public office, effective immediately. The court also sentenced her to a four-year prison term, with two years suspended and two to be served under house arrest with electronic monitoring.
Bardella argued that the timing of the verdict, coming just before the 2027 presidential election, was suspicious. He stated, "The objective is clear: to remove Marine Le Pen from the presidential election," emphasizing that the party views this as an attempt to eliminate their strongest political opponent.
The National Rally plans to appeal the decision, with Le Pen herself vowing to pursue all available legal avenues. She maintains her innocence and refuses to be "eliminated" from the political scene[5]. Despite the ban, Le Pen has stated that she will not retire from political life and will continue to fight against what she perceives as an unjust ruling.
This conviction and its immediate effects have thrown Le Pen's potential 2027 presidential bid into doubt, significantly altering the landscape of French politics. The case has reignited debates about the independence of the judiciary and the role of legal proceedings in shaping political outcomes.
