Marine Le Pen criticises French prosecutors for seeking a 'political death sentence'

Marine Le Pen criticises French prosecutors for seeking a ‘political death sentence’

The French far-right leader says her embezzlement trial is “politicised” and denounces prosecutors for seeking to ban her from public office.

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen says she is facing a “political death sentence” in her embezzlement trial with prosecutors seeking an immediate five-year ban from public office, a punishment that would bar her from running in the 2027 presidential election.

Le Pen, her National Rally (RN) party, and 24 others—party officials, employees, ex-lawmakers, and parliamentary assistants—are accused of using EU funds to pay staff who worked for the party from 2004 to 2016, in violation of the bloc’s regulations. All those accused have denied the charges. The RN was then called the National Front.

French prosecutors last week asked a court in Paris to find Le Pen guilty of embezzlement, hand her a five-year prison sentence — three of which would be suspended — and fine her €300,000.

They also requested a five-year period of ineligibility to run for office, with a provisional execution. This rarely used tool means the ban would stand regardless of any appeal, preventing the three-time presidential candidate from running again in the 2027 election.

Marine Le Pen criticises French prosecutors for seeking a ‘political death sentence’