Marine Le Pen’s Conviction— Electoral Ban and Witch-Hunting
by Margaux Baudry, read 2 min 20
After a nine-week trial, Marine Le Pen was found guilty of embezzling a total of 4.5€ million in EU parliamentary funds. From 2004 to 2016, the party she led, Rassemblement National (National Rally), created fake work contracts for individuals with no connection to the European Parliament, using taxpayers’ money to enrich the party. This judgment is not without impact on Le Pen’s career as it bans her from running for office for the next five years. She claimed her conviction was a “political decision” and went on to call it a “witch hunt”. But is this really an unfair punishment—or simply justice finally being served?
The Judgement
Marine Le Pen and her fellow defendants pleaded innocent throughout the trial. Le Pen maintained her innocence, stating: “I have absolutely no sense of having committed the slightest irregularity, or the slightest illegal act.”.
Yet, it was proven that the party used taxpayers’ money — originally allocated to Members of Parliament to pay their assistants — to pay its party workers in France. Hence, Le Pen (MEP since 2004 and head of the party from 2011) was found guilty along with eight other party MEPs as well as twelve individuals employed under fake contracts as parliamentary assistants.Le Pen was given a four-year prison term, comprising two years of suspension and two years to be served outside of jail with an electronic bracelet — as well as a 100 000€ fine. The Paris Court of Appeal received appeals against this decision and will issue a decision on her case by the summer of 2026. This could potentially allow the far-right leader to run in the 2027 presidential election if her conviction is overturned.
The Electoral Ban: a “Witch Hunt”?
Marine Le Pen’s five-year electoral ban comes as a huge shock to her party, especially since polls had projected her as the frontrunner for the 2027 presidential election. This sanction is imposed with immediate effect as per the French legislation passed in 2013. Ironically, at the time the legislation was debated, Le Pen advocated for an even stricter penalty in case of embezzlement of public funds: lifetime electoral disqualification!
In 2013 she claimed: “When I demand ethics and morality, I apply it to myself.”… a quote that awkwardly resurfaces in light of present events.
“Je suis Marine!”
Not to worry, Le Pen is not fighting this battle on her own. The current president of RN, Jordan Bardella, claims the court ruling was "a direct attack on democracy and a wound to millions of patriotic French people". She also received support from other European far-right leaders such as Meloni and Orban, and even Trump chanted “FREE MARINE LE PEN!”
On April 6th, thousands of French RN supporters rallied in Paris, with around 15,000 people gathering and chanting “we will win”. Yet, according to polls, 65% of French people do not see a problem with her conviction and consider that she was fairly judged as any other citizen would be.
Looking Ahead
To paint herself as a martyr, Marine Le Pen shamelessly claims to draw inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr.—a man who fought for civil rights and equality. The comparison feels as bold as it does misplaced. If Le Pen sees her legal battle as the continuation of his legacy, then it will in all probability, be a very long one…
