Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s National Rally party, was found guilty of embezzling European Union funds and banned from running for office. Despite this, Le Pen vowed to continue her political career, calling the ruling a “political decision” rather than a judicial one.
Le Pen’s supporters protested in Paris, waving tricolor flags, while rival rallies were held on the opposite side of the city. The court’s decision has dealt a severe blow to Le Pen’s ambitions to win the presidency in 2027, but she has announced plans to appeal the ban, which could potentially allow her to run in the elections if she wins her appeal.