Marine Le Pen, leader of France's far-right National Rally (RN), has been officially barred from running in the 2027 presidential election after being convicted of embezzlement in a ruling that has sparked fierce backlash across political lines. The French court's decision to prohibit Le Pen from holding public office for five years, along with a prison sentence and hefty fine, is seen as a major blow to her presidential aspirations and a potential reshaping of the 2027 election landscape.

Le Pen, one of Europe's leading far-right figures, was found guilty of misappropriating more than 4 million euros ($4.3 million) of European Union funds, which were used to pay the salaries of her party’s staff. Despite the court’s ruling, Le Pen maintained her innocence, vowing to appeal the decision, which she criticized as politically motivated. Speaking in a prime-time TV interview on TF1, Le Pen argued that the ruling was not just a personal setback but an assault on democracy itself.

"Millions of French people have been eliminated from the democratic process," she said. "This is not just about me; it's about their voices being silenced." Le Pen also accused the judiciary of implementing authoritarian tactics, arguing that the ruling was part of a wider global trend where "radical left" forces use the legal system to suppress their political opponents.

The court’s ruling also includes a four-year prison sentence for Le Pen, with two years suspended and two years under home detention, alongside a fine of 100,000 euros. However, the penalties will not be enforced until her appeals are exhausted, and she will retain her parliamentary seat until her term ends.

The ruling has led to fierce reactions, both in France and internationally. Le Pen’s allies, including RN president Jordan Bardella, condemned the court’s decision as a direct attack on French democracy, claiming that the ruling amounted to "judicial overreach." Internationally, prominent far-right figures such as former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban have expressed solidarity with Le Pen, accusing the French judiciary of left-wing bias.

Despite the ruling, Le Pen remains defiant, suggesting that her political career is not over yet. “I am not ready to hand over the baton to anyone just yet,” she said, hinting that Bardella, who is seen as a potential successor, may not be the RN’s candidate for 2027. Political analysts note that Bardella, while popular among younger voters, may lack the broad appeal needed to secure victory in the election.

This legal battle has brought into sharp focus the ongoing tensions between politics and the judiciary in France, and the fallout could have significant consequences for the 2027 presidential race, already shaping up to be a volatile contest. As the legal proceedings unfold, the nation waits to see whether Le Pen’s political ambitions will be permanently sidelined or if she can mount a successful appeal.