Le Pen to Appeal French Election Ban After Embezzlement Ruling

Marine Le Pen leaves court in Paris, on March 31.Photographer: Cyril Marcilhacy/Bloomberg

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By Gaspard Sebag, Samy Adghirni, and Ania Nussbaum

March 31, 2025 at 10:50 AM UTC

Updated on

March 31, 2025 at 2:46 PM UTC

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Far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s presidential ambitions were dealt a potential death blow after she was convicted of embezzlement by a French court and barred from running in the next election in 2027. Her lawyer vowed to appeal the ruling.

Judges at the Paris criminal court found Le Pen and her National Rally party guilty of diverting €4.4 million ($4.8 million) in European Union funds to finance activities related to their domestic agenda.