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A French court has banned right-wing firebrand Marine Le Pen from holding public office in the country in what could be the final blow to her 2027 presidential election hopes.
The Paris Court of Appeal upheld a previous conviction regarding the alleged misuse of EU public funds, which had seen the top National Rally politician receive a four-year suspended prison sentence, and a ban on running for office for 45 months.
It also included Le Pen being required to serve a two-year stint of wearing an ankle monitor, with rules restricting her movements imposed upon her.
The ban currently has not impacted her position as a French MP, as it is protected by parliamentary immunity.
According to a report by Le Figaro, the appeals court did opt to reduce Le Pen’s sentences, with the right-wing leader now only forced to wear an ankle tag for a year, while being subjected to a 15-month ban from political life.
With the judge backdating this latter sentence to the date of her initial conviction, the ruling means that Le Pen could technically run for the French presidential election next year.
However, she would be forced to do so while wearing an electronic monitor, something which she has previously said would render political campaigning unfeasible.
“If I’m allowed to be a candidate but am effectively prevented from campaigning freely, then you understand that it would be impossible,” she previously told reporters.
Her lawyer has since said that the reduced sentence represents a “significant shift”, and that Le Pen will now consider it and all of its ramifications carefully before announcing her next move.
A statement on such a decision is expected today at 7pm Irish time.
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