On Monday, far-right French leader Marine Le Pen was found guilty of embezzlement by a Paris criminal court. She was subsequently barred from running for public office for five years. Le Pen was the front-runner for the country’s 2027 presidential election, and is now effectively barred from participating in it. The politician was infuriated by the verdict, and told a television network that the ruling is an attempt to thwart her politically. The accusations involve the National Rally party misusing millions of euros in European Parliament funds where Le Pen helped to pay party staff members. She has denied any wrongdoing, but will only be able to run in 2027 if she receives a more lenient ruling after an appeal. 

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/world/europe/france-marine-le-pen-embezzlement-2027-election-ban.html