Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right political party Rassemblement National, has been sentenced by a French court to five years of ineligibility for election candidacy, alongside a prison and monetary fine for her involvement in a systematic misuse of funds allocated by the European Parliament.

This ruling has drawn significant attention and mixed reactions across the political landscape in France.

The court found that Le Pen was at the center of a scheme aimed at diverting European Parliament funds to benefit her party, which has been a prominent player in French politics, especially in the context of the approaching presidential election in 2027. Patrick Maisonneuve, representing the European Parliament in the case, stated there was no doubt that a system had been created to misappropriate these funds.

The judgment reflects an unequivocal stance from the court regarding Le Pen's culpability, as noted by the presiding judges during the proceedings.

In a significant turn of events, the judges imposed an immediate and effective loss of Le Pen's passive voting rights, meaning she will be barred from standing as a candidate in future elections, including the next presidential race.

The decision on ineligibility is to take effect immediately and is set to remain valid even if Le Pen appeals the court ruling.

The Rassemblement National has criticized the verdict as politically motivated, suggesting the judicial decision was aimed at obstructing Le Pen's potential candidacy.

Party spokesperson Laurent Jacobelli expressed that the ruling was grave, arguing the judges demonstrated an intent to prevent Le Pen's participation in future elections.

He contended that the argument of potential recidivism was unfounded, highlighting that Le Pen had not been an active Member of the European Parliament for a decade and had never been previously charged with any wrongdoing related to her parliamentary activities.

The court's decision could potentially reshape the French political landscape, particularly considering Le Pen's previously established position as a leading contender for the presidency in 2027. Laurent Wauquiez, head of the conservative party Les Républicains in the French parliament, remarked on the seriousness of the court's ruling, indicating that it could have severe repercussions for the health of France's democracy, emphasizing that electoral decisions should be left to the electorate and not dictated by the judiciary.

In contrast, Green party politician Marine Tondelier cautioned against undermining the judiciary, asserting that attacks on the judicial system, especially from those aspiring to high office, reflect a troubling understanding of the rule of law.

Le Pen has indicated her intention to appeal the court's decision and is expected to address the ruling in a television interview later in the evening.