Possible political ban verdict in Le Pen trial fuels ire among supporters, analyst says

Record ID: 1986321

  • Title: Possible political ban verdict in Le Pen trial fuels ire among supporters, analyst says
  • Date: 28th March 2025
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (RECENT - MARCH 11, 2025) (REUTERS) RIGHT-WING NATIONAL ASSEMBLY LAWMAKER AND FORMER MAYOR OF MONTAUBAN, BRIGITTE BAREGES, WHO RECEIVED A POLITICAL BAN THAT WAS LATER APPEALED AFTER BEING CONVICTED OF EMBEZZLEMENT, SITTING AT DESK VARIOUS OF BAREGES AT DESK (SOUNDBITE) (French) RIGHT-WING NATIONAL ASSEMBLY LAWMAKER AND FORMER MAYOR OF MONTAUBAN, BRIGITTE BARE
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Bardella EU funds misuse France Le Pen National Rally far right trial verdict
  • Location: VARIOUS LOCATIONS, FRANCE
  • City: VARIOUS LOCATIONS, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Europe,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions
  • Reuters ID: LVA001234828032025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: French far-right leader Marine Le Pen will learn on Monday (March 31) her fate in an embezzlement trial, with prosecutors demanding she face an instant five-year public office ban that she claims is an unheard-of assault on her presidential hopes.
    The 56-year-old far-right lawmaker, who leads polls for the 2027 presidential vote, accuses prosecutors of seeking her "political death" by asking judges to bar her from office if convicted - effective immediately even if she appeals.
    "It's something very serious to tell someone who could potentially win 40-something percent of votes in the second round (of presidential election), based on the last election, 'You cannot run the next time,'” political researcher Jean-Yves Camus told Reuters ahead of the verdict.
    "I think the judges have enough experience to know what the stakes are, as well as the risk over how their sentence could be interpreted, especially by the RN itself, as a form of political impediment,” he added.
    Le Pen, the RN and some two dozen party figures are accused of diverting over 3 million euros ($3.27 million) of European funds to pay staff in France. They say the money was used legitimately. RN spokesperson Laurent Jacobelli did not respond to a request for comment for this article.
    Prosecutors Louise Neyton and Nicolas Barret's request for an immediate five-year bar on Le Pen, via the so-called "provisional execution" measure, electrified French politics.
    Typically in France, sentences for non-serious crimes, or those committed by first-time offenders, are not applied until the appeals process has run its course. However, if judges apply a "provisional execution," the sentence begins immediately.
    Judges can adopt, modify or reject the prosecutors' request.
    If convicted and given a five-year "provisional execution" ban, Le Pen’s only hopes of running will rest on her conviction and sentence being overturned before 2027.
    "It will be hugely tempting for the judges to prevent her (Le Pen) from running if they decide for this ineligibility sentence, which lasts for five years, which is required. That will be profoundly shocking,” said right-wing Brigitte Bareges, who had to live through the same experience.
    Bareges, a right-wing former mayor of the southern town of Montauban, was convicted of embezzlement in 2021, and given a fine, suspended prison sentence and five-year political ban with "provisional execution."
    "First you feel shame, you're deprived of your source of income,” she said. “I lived using my savings and thanks to the support of my partner."
    Bareges, who was acquitted on appeal, described her "provisional execution" sentence as a hit-job by a politicized judiciary. The Justice Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
    In the case Le Pen does receive the political ban, her wingman Jordan Bardella, the president of the RN, has been preparing for the possibility of a 2027 presidential campaign, Camus said. He has been showing himself internationally, including during a trip to Israel this week, and within French media.
    But Bardella said otherwise, adding that he believes Le Pen will win her case.
    “I'm not putting myself into this hypothesis (of running for presidential election) because Marine Le Pen is totally innocent of the acts that she is accused of,” he said on the sidelines of a book-signing event in Versailles.
    Camus said the ban could solidify the Le Pen’s electoral base, which comprise voters who are “prone to thinking that they are victims of the 'elite,’” by reinforcing their “sentiment of being ostracised."
    RN supporters expressed their anger over the possible ban against Le Pen.
    “It's a bit disgusting. because other political parties have done so much worse, a lot worse than that, and we don't say anything to them,” sales agent Adeline, who did not give a last name, said.
    But if Le Pen is acquitted, Camus said she’s on the right path for 2027.
    “She will be viewed as someone who succeeded in surmounting a challenge,” he said. “If she is acquitted, everything will go well for her."
    (Production: Manuel Ausloos, Clotaire Achi, Ardee Napolitano)
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