Marine Le Pen Faces Potential Political Ban in EU Funds Embezzlement Trial

French prosecutors seek to bar Le Pen from public office, threatening her political future and sparking a debate on judicial influence in politics.

Marine Le Pen and members of the National Rally party are accused of misappropriating EU funds, allegedly using them to pay party staff in France.
Prosecutors demand a five-year ban from public office for Le Pen, citing a 2016 law on embezzlement, which could prevent her from running in the 2027 presidential election.
The trial has reignited discussions on the role of judiciary in political matters, with concerns about undermining democratic processes by excluding political figures through legal means.
Le Pen's potential ineligibility could reshape the French political landscape, with her protégé Jordan Bardella emerging as a key figure in the National Rally party.
The case has intensified anti-establishment sentiments, with the National Rally framing the trial as a political maneuver by European institutions and the French judiciary.