Marine Le Pen's sentence: the struggle for political survival
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A court in Paris has handed down a staggering sentence to Marine Le Pen - four years in prison, including two suspended and two under an electronic bracelet, and a five-year ban on running for office. The judgement could forever dash her dream of becoming president of France in 2027.
Le Pen's conviction is related to the case of fictitious jobs in the European Parliament, created in the interests of her party, the Rassemblement National (RN). Along with her, 23 other people - party functionaries and aides - were convicted.
Le Pen called the verdict "political" and said she would appeal it as a matter of urgency. In an interview with TF1 channel, she said: "I will not be eliminated so easily. I will go through all possible legal paths. This path is narrow, but it exists." Despite everything, she has no intention of leaving the political arena and still considers herself the favourite in the presidential race.
If the verdict stands, Le Pen's seat in 2027 could go to Jordan Bardella, the 29-year-old head of the RN, whom she herself has described as a worthy successor. Meanwhile, a crisis meeting was held within the party's ranks, with comments from around the world fuelling an international outcry.
The court's decision has provoked anger from a number of far-right politicians and Le Pen's allies. There were sharp criticisms of the French judiciary, from Viktor Orban to E lon Musk, who said that "this will backfire, just like the judicial attacks on Trump in the US".
French Justice Minister Gerard Darmanin has condemned "unacceptable threats" against judges, while the Supreme Judicial Council issued a rare statement defending the independence of justice and expressing concern about "fierce attacks".
According to the latest polls, Le Pen would lead in the first round of the 2027 presidential election. Current President Emmanuel Macron is not eligible to run for a third term. That made her the main contender.
Now that the court verdict has taken immediate effect, her chance at the Elysee Palace is in jeopardy, and a moment of strategic choice is at hand for the RN. As Le Pen urges justice to "hurry up" with the appeal, the fate of the far-right movement in France hangs in the balance.
"I'm not giving up. I am innocent," she repeats. But even if the court gives her a chance, the big question remains: will the French trust a man convicted of abusing the trust of voters?
