Are Marine Le Pen’s Dreams of Running for President Ruined Forever?

This week, the Paris prosecutor’s office requested a five-year prison sentence and a five-year election ban for the defendant, high-profile former president Marine Le Pen, 56, during the hearing in the EU fund embezzlement case. The one on the far right is from Rassemblement National (RN) or National Rally. This case began 10 years after the initial investigations were conducted. The National Rally fears that its hopes of making Le Pen President of France in 2027 are diminishing because of this case.

What is the next legal step?

Starting Monday, lawyers for Marine Le Pen and 24 other defendants will present their cases. The trial is scheduled to end on November 27. However, the decision is expected to be made only in early 2025. What if Le Pen is convicted? If convicted, he could face a suspended or non-suspended prison sentence; This could theoretically take up to ten years. The prosecution requested a five-year prison sentence, three of which could be reduced. The two-year fixed portion of the requested sentence is convertible; This means that the leader of the far-right party will not be physically imprisoned, but may be placed under electronic tag.

The prosecutor’s office requested a fine of up to 300 thousand euros and up to 1 million euros. 4.3 million euros were requested for his political party, which is considered a legal entity; Of this, 2.3 million can be suspended and 2 million will be paid immediately. Could he be blocked from running for president? It may be covered by a 2016 law that makes the imposition of disenfranchisement mandatory and automatic in cases of misappropriation of public funds. However, if the court finds him guilty, it may decide not to impose this penalty “with a specially reasoned decision”. However, this option was rejected by the prosecutor’s office, who wanted temporary execution to be added to the sentence of deprivation of rights. This situation, which can be implemented immediately even if Le Pen objects, may prevent her from participating in the 2027 presidential elections.

Normally, sentences are suspended while the defendant appeals. In the Marine Le Pen case, the prosecution justified its demands in the name of “preventing the repetition of crimes” and “protecting public order.” At the hearing, prosecutor Nicolas Barret declared that “the law applies to everyone” and that “justice cannot be held accountable for the political ambitions of each person.” Considering the current time frames of the procedures in the Paris Court of Appeal and Supreme Court and the French Supreme Court, it is even possible that a final decision will not be issued before the 2027 presidential elections.

How did Marine Le Pen react to the demands?

The far-right leader’s anger was expected. “I think the prosecutor’s intention is to deprive the French people of the ability to vote for whoever they want” and “destroy the party,” said the angry three-time Presidential candidate. The far-right MP warned that he would appeal if a decision was made against him. His supporters followed him. “The prosecution is not about justice; it’s about revenge against Marine Le Pen,” tweeted RN president Jordan Bardella on social network He even started a petition to support his boss.

Many European countries have rules regarding ineligibility in the event of a conviction by a court. In Germany, a person sentenced to at least one year in prison automatically loses the right to be elected and participate in elections for five years. In Ireland, no person serving a prison sentence of more than six months is eligible for election for the entirety of the sentence. Under a 1981 law in the United Kingdom, people serving sentences of more than one year are effectively ineligible for the duration of their prison sentence, as are those convicted of offenses related to illegal electoral practices or political donations. On the other hand, some countries, such as Sweden or Finland, do not provide for automatic disqualification from membership in the event of a conviction by the courts.