French far-right leader Marine Le Pen barred from running for public office for 5 years

The French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been barred from running for president in 2027 after a court found her guilty of a vast system of embezzlement of European parliament funds and banned her from running for public office with immediate effect, The Guardian writes.

Le Pen, 56, said before the verdict that that any immediate ban on running for election would be like a “political death sentence.” As noted, she is likely to immediately appeal against the verdict.

Judges handed Le Pen a five year ban on running for public office with the added provision that it will take immediate effect. It will apply even if she appeals.