We are yet to hear directly from Marine Le Pen as she remains locked in talks with her closest allies inside the party headquarters.
As reported earlier, she is expected to appear on live TV later tonight at 8pm Paris time (7pm London time).
But for now, that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, on this blog.
We will bring you the key lines from her interview later in our coverage on Guardian Europe – and in our Europe Live blog tomorrow.
Bardella's call for 'peaceful mobilisation' first glimpse of party's response to court's verdict - snap analysis
That is an important public response from Bardella, giving us early insight into how the party intends to respond to today’s verdict.
The plan, unsurprisingly, seems to be to go on the attack: mobilise its supporters and press ahead with the narrative that there is an elite out to get Le Pen and her party and stop her political career – exactly as Angelique said earlier.
It’s worth noting that Bardella could eventually become the National Rally’s candidate in 2027 if Le Pen is ultimately blocked from joining the race. It’s still very early days, but his name is expected to be in the mix – and it surely won’t harm his chances internally if the party faithful see him as a loyal ally, rallying the troops to support Le Pen at a particularly tricky moment for her political career.
National Rally president Bardella calls for 'peaceful mobilisation' in response to 'dictatorship of judges'
The far-right National Rally president Jordan Bardella has just published an online call to action for Marine Le Pen’s supporters, asking them to sign a petition in support of Le Pen and calling for “a peaceful mobilisation” to defend the politician.
In a petition entitled “let’s save democracy, let’s support Marine,” the party said that “like many French people, we share the conviction that a part of the justice system is seeking to triumph where our adversaries have failed.”
“By banning Marine Le Pen from running in the 2027 presidential election, they are attempting to prevent her accession to the Élysée Palace by any means necessary,” the note said.
It added that the immediate clause on the public office ban is “a democratic scandal,” as it claimed that, contrary to the court’s ruling this morning, Le Pen remains “completely innocent.”
“It is not just Marine Le Pen who is being unjustly condemned: it is French democracy that is being executed. It is no longer the government of judges, but the dictatorship of judges, which wishes to prevent the French people from expressing themselves,” the text said.
The party called “for a popular and peaceful mobilisation,” urging supporters to “show those would want to circumvent democracy that the will of the people is stronger!”
“You have always been able to count on Marine Le Pen, on her willingness to defend you, on her patriotism. Today, she is counting on you,” it said.
Court sketches from today's verdict
We have just received these court sketches from Marine Le Pen’s appearance in court this morning to give you an idea of the tension inside that courtroom in Paris.
French PM 'troubled' by public office ban, but does not intend to comment on court decision - media reports
French prime minister François Bayrou was “troubled” by today’s court decision to ban far-right leader Marine Le Pen from running for public office for five years, a source in his office told Agence France-Presse, but they added that the PM did not want to make “any comment on a court decision.”
These comments were also reported by other French media, including Le Parisien and Le Monde.
Trump aide Musk attacks 'radical left' for 'abusing legal system to jail their opponents' as he reacts to Le Pen verdict
US billionaire and Trump aide Elon Musk has also reacted to today’s developments in Paris with a post on his X platform, attacking the court’s decision:
When the radical left can’t win via democratic vote, they abuse the legal system to jail their opponents. This is their standard playbook throughout the world.
Updated
In the meantime, the Socialist Party has reacted to the verdict in Le Pen’s case.
The party “calls on everyone to respect the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law,” and “remains mobilised to defend republican values and transparency in public life,” it said in a statement.
Looking at the scenes outside the National Rally’s party headquarters in Paris, the French media are not losing hope of hearing directly from Le Pen when she leaves the building at some point this afternoon.
If she says anything, I will let you know.
Le Pen’s appeal does not suspend public office ban pending outcome – snap analysis
Le Pen lawyer’s comments are not surprising, as Le Pen was always expected to fiercely challenge the court’s decision.
But it’s worth keeping in mind that while the appeal would suspend the jail sentence and the fine, it would not have an impact on the “ineligibility” ban, which remains in place in the meantime. That’s due to the key part of the decision we waited for earlier, on the “immediacy” of the ban.
The French media say the appeal would be unlikely to be heard before 2026, leaving the far-right with a prolonged period of uncertainty about Le Pen’s ability to run in the 2027 race – and on a back foot as others build up to their campaigns.
Le Pen to appeal against her conviction, her lawyer says
Marine Le Pen’s lawyer, Rodolphe Bosselut, has confirmed the far-right leader will appeal against her conviction for embezzlement of public funds.
“We are going to appeal,” he said, asserting that the verdict was “a blow to democracy.”
Separately, the National Rally’s spokesperson Laurent Jacobelli said that the leader remained “in a fighting mood.”
Updated
Updated
And let’s bring you some more reactions from French party leaders and from the Kremlin, after bringing you reactions from Maréchal and key European far-right figures in Orbán, Salvini, and Wilders earlier.
Éric Zemmour, president of the far-right Reconquête, or Reconquest party, said:
“It is not for judges to decide who the people must vote for. Whatever our disagreements, Marine Le Pen is legitimate to present herself for the vote.”
Fabien Roussel, national secretary of the French Communist party, said:
“Justice is justice ... Ms. Le Pen is a politician who demands firmness on the part of the judiciary! Respect the judicial system then.”
The far-left France Unbowed party said in a statement:
“The facts that have been declared true are particularly serious …
As for the rest, France Unbowed has never expected to use the courts as a way to get rid of the National Rally.
We fight them at the ballot box and in the streets, with the mobilisation of the French people, as we did during the 2024 legislative elections. We will fight again tomorrow in the polls, whoever is their candidate.”
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, said:
“More and more European capitals are going down the path of trampling over democratic norms. Of course, we do not want to interfere in France’s internal affairs, we have never done so ...
But in general, our observations of European capitals show that they are not at all reluctant to go beyond democracy during the political process.”
Updated
'Political earthquake' that could serve Le Pen's victimisation narrative and increase support for the far-right - analysis
It is a political earthquake that is almost certain to end Marine Le Pen’s ambitions for the 2027 presidential election and throws her far-right party into chaos just as it was setting its sights on taking power in France.
The conviction of Le Pen and 24 other party members for embezzlement of European parliament funds is a huge blow to a far-right party that has long tried to present itself as the honest, squeaky-clean alternative to old-school politicians with their hands in the till.
“Head high, clean hands” was once a slogan of the far-right, anti-immigration Front National – now renamed the National Rally – to distance itself from what it called greedy traditional politicians’ crooked ways.
Le Pen’s punishment – which she had earlier likened to a “political death sentence” – is all the more personally damaging because she began her political career styling herself as anti-corruption crusader, saying in a TV debate in 2004: “Everyone has taken money from the till except the Front National … The French are sick of seeing politicians embezzling money. It’s scandalous.”
The party president, Jordan Bardella, 29, who is popular but inexperienced, could now become a replacement figure for the presidential race, but nothing is certain. As the party met for crisis talks on Monday, he said French democracy had been “executed” by the “unjust” verdict.
But it is likely that the core of Le Pen’s electorate will rally behind her. The verdict and sentence could even boost political support for the far right. Le Pen was not accused of personally lining her pockets, but of channelling the money to the party. She has routinely called the case a political attack on her, saying judges wanted her “political death”.
The guilty verdict and strong sentence, barring her from running for office with immediate effect, serves her victimisation narrative that there is an elite out to get her and her party and stop her political career.
Senior party figures said, before the verdicts, that convictions could actually increase support for the National Rally in France.
Read in full:
The parliamentary leader of the centre-right Les Républicains party Laurent Wauquiez, who is expected to run in 2027 elections, told reporters that it was “not healthy” for an elected official to be prevented from running in an election, Libération reported.
“Political debates must be settled at the ballot box and it is the French people who must decide,” he told reporters, adding that today’s decision will “weigh heavily on the functioning of the French democracy”.
Far-right politician Marion Maréchal, a European Parliament lawmaker and Marine Le Pen’s niece, just accused judges for “thinking about themselves as above the … people” and claimed that Le Pen was only found guilty because she was on course to lead the nationalists to victory.
Here is her post in full:
For decades, the national camp and our family have suffered every blow, every attack, every injustice. Judges, thinking of themselves as above the sovereign people, have decided to execute in a court of law the woman they were never able to force back at the ballot box.
@MLP_officiel led our side on the path to victory. This is her only culpability, and that is why she is condemned. No one on the right should pretend to be satisfied with this judgment. There was François Fillon before, Marine Le Pen today. Who will be next? I am more than ever by Marine’s side at this time.
Dutch far-right leader Wilders criticises 'tough' verdict, says he hopes Le Pen will win appeal and become president
The Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders joins Hungary’s Orbán and Italy’s Salvini as he issues a critical reaction to the ruling against Le Pen.
He says:
I am shocked by the incredible [sic!] tough verdict against @MLP_officiel. I support and believe in her for the full 100% and I trust she will win the appeal and become President of France.
Updated
The risk of 'major disturbance of public order' weighed on decision on immediate ban, court says
Here’s how the presiding judge Bénédicte de Perthuis explained her decision, via AFP:
“The court took into consideration, in addition to the risk of reoffending, the major disturbance of public order if a person already convicted... was a candidate in the presidential election.”
Le Pen has just been confirmed as the guest of the TF1 broadcaster’s 8pm news programme, Journal de 20 heures.
She has not made any public comments on the ruling so far.
Le Pen ruling 'bad film' and 'declaration of war by Brussels,' Italy's Salvini says
Another Le Pen ally, Italy’s deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini, has just offered his reaction to the court’s decision too.
In a social media post, he said:
Those who fear the judgment of the voters often find reassurance in the judgment of the courts.
In Paris they condemned Marine Le Pen and would like to exclude her from political life. A bad film that we are also seeing in other countries such as Romania.
The one against @MLP_officiel is a declaration of war by Brussels, at a time when the warlike impulses of von der Leyen and Macron are frightening.
We will not be intimidated, we will not stop: full speed ahead my friend!
Full verdict against Marine Le Pen
The full verdict is in and Marine Le Pen has been sentenced to five years of ineligibility, with immediate effect – effectively ruling her out of the 2027 presidential race.
The judges also gave Le Pen a four-year prison sentence – of which two years are a suspended sentence – and a 100,000 euro fine.
She is almost certain to appeal, and the prison penalty and fine would not be applied until her appeals are exhausted.
Updated
'French democracy has been executed,' National Rally leader Jordan Bardella
The National Rally’s leader Jordan Bardella – who arrived at the party’s headquarters in the last few minutes to meet with Le Pen – reacts to the decision, saying in a social media post:
Today, it is not only Marine Le Pen who is being unjustly condemned: it is French democracy that has been executed.
Le Pen barred from running for public office for 5 years, with immediate effect
Here it is: Marine Le Pen gets barred from running for public office for 5 years, with immediate effect.
That extremely complicates – if not outright ends – her 2027 presidential bid.
A huge moment in French politics.
Marine Le Pen has arrived at her party’s HQ in western Paris without commenting.
She is scheduled to meet party president Jordan Bardella.
Le Pen has just arrived at the National Rally’s headquarters in Paris, but, again, not a word of reaction to reporters gathered outside the building.
Updated
'Je suis Marine,' Hungarian prime minister Orbán says
Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán with an early reaction to the ruling, even before it gets fully delivered, as he expresses his solidarity with Le Pen in a social media post.
He says:
Je suis Marine! @MLP_officiel
Updated
Le Pen leaves the court before sentence gets read out
… and Le Pen has just left the court, before the sentence has even been fully read out.
Updated
Marine Le Pen barred from running for public office with immediate effect
We are still waiting for find out the critical detail about the length of the ban though.
We will bring you that as soon as possible.
The devil here is very much in the detail: the exact length of the ban and whether it is with immediate effect will be absolutely critical in the context of the 2027 presidential race.
We don’t have clarity on this question just yet – but we’re getting closer to that big moment.
Le Pen will be barred from running for public office, but no details yet - court
The court has said Marine Le Pen will be barred from running for public office, but the head judge has not yet said for how long and whether with immediate effect.
Those details should follow in the coming hour.
'Not administrative errors ... but embezzlement within the framework of a system put in place' to help party - judge
We are getting a bit more detail on the presiding judge’s explanation for the guilty verdict, via Reuters.
The court found Le Pen, eight other people who were EU lawmakers at the time and 12 parliamentary assistants guilty of embezzling EU funds. The defendants were not accused of pocketing the money, but rather of using EU funds to the benefit of their party.
Judge Bénédicte de Perthuis ruled: “It was established that all these people were actually working for the party, that their (EU) lawmaker had not given them any tasks.”
“The investigations also showed that these were not administrative errors ... but embezzlement within the framework of a system put in place to reduce the party’s costs.”
Le Pen, who sat in the front row in court, could be seen at times shaking her head slightly from right to left, indicating “no”, while listening to the judge.
The Libération daily adds that in total court found evidence of over 40 fictitious contracts over “nearly 12 years”, amounting to “more than €4.6 million” in total.
No sentence yet - snap analysis
A word of caution: we still need to wait for sentencing, including a decision on the key issue of whether the verdict will include a declaration that she is ineligible to run for public office, and whether it will be “with immediate effect” or not.
Stay with us for the latest.
Le Pen and eight MEPs found guilty
We are just getting a first line out of the Paris court that Marine Le Pen and eight MEPs were found guilty of embezzlement of EU funds.
But their sentences will be reported individually, the French media say, so we need to wait a bit longer for more details to come out of the courtroom.
Updated
In opening remarks reported by various French media, the presiding judge Bénédicte de Perthuis warned that the judgment “is going to be a bit long,” as it gives “a number of explanations for the decision taken.”
While acknowledging the broader importance of the case, including for political processes, she insisted the court will “proceed as usual.”
The judges have begun reading their verdicts.
Patrick Maisonneuve, lawyer for the European parliament, arriving in court, said that what was at stake was the embezzlement of European taxpayers’ funds.
He said the European parliament sought to protect the rights of European taxpayers.
Paris court starts delivering verdict
The Paris court has now started delivering the verdict.
No cameras or audio recording allowed inside, though, so it will take some time before we hear more about the judges’ reasoning and their ultimate decisions.
It’s past 10am in Paris now, but we need to be patient here: as Angelique said earlier, it may take a while – even several hours - before we get the verdict.
The French media are estimating it could take the head judge two or three hours to read the entire decision.
I will bring you all key updates here.
Not just Le Pen - profile of Louis Aliot
Marine Le Pen is not the only National Rally politician whose political career is in the balance.
Louis Aliot, a lawyer who was formerly Le Pen’s romantic partner and is a party vice-president, is the mayor of Perpignan, close to the Spanish border.
With a population of 121,000, Perpignan is the biggest city to be run by the far-right National Rally and is seen as a laboratory for the party’s local government policies ahead of crucial municipal elections next year.
If found guilty and barred from holding public office with immediate effect, Aliot could instantly lose his job as mayor, dealing a blow to the party.
Read about Perpignan run by the far-right here:
Marine Le Pen arrives in court
Marine Le Pen has just arrived in court, but chose not to stop to respond to questions from reporters.
Le Pen's case in Paris court - context
Marine Le Pen and 24 others from RN, including party officials, employees, MEPs and assistants, were tried last November on charges of taking money from the European parliament as part of an alleged fake jobs scam. Instead of the money being spent on EU staff, they were accused of having used it to pay party staff in France.
The European parliament estimated the allegedly embezzled funds amounted to about €7m.
Le Pen and the others have denied the charges.
Public prosecutors have demanded Le Pen be given a €300,000 (£250,000) fine, a prison sentence and that she be prevented from holding or seeking to hold a political position or five years.
On Friday, in a case that did not involve Le Pen, France’s constitutional council delivered a blow to the RN figurehead when it ruled that politicians can be barred from office immediately if convicted of a crime.
Any verdict that does not clear Le Pen of wrongdoing will leave her political future in grave doubt.
If she is found guilty of embezzlement she will almost certainly appeal, which will require a new trial to be held, and any prison sentence or fine will be postponed until the appeal hearing is judged.
If she is given a five-year bar on standing for public office with immediate effect it will be unlikely she can enter the 2027 presidential race unless the appeal process is speeded up and she is cleared in time to stand.
If the judges decide the bar on standing should be postponed, she will still have what one RN member described as a “Damoclean sword” hanging over her political campaign.
What’s the full context of this case against Le Pen and what are the possible scenarios, I hear you ask?
You will be pleased to hear that we have a big explainer from Kim Willsher to help us out.
At Paris’s criminal court, the head judge will begin reading the verdicts at 10am French time, and will take several hours to do so.
Marine Le Pen and 24 people in the National Rally party, including nine former members of the European Parliament and their 12 parliamentary assistants, are accused of running a vast scheme over many years to embezzle European funds.
They are accused of using money allocated to European parliamentary assistants to instead pay party workers in France.
We will be hearing a lot from our Paris correspondent Angelique Chrisafis today, who is following this case for us.
So, let me bring you her first update.
Morning opening: The first act of 2027 French presidential elections
The 2027 French presidential election may be two years out, but its first act will play out in a Paris court this morning, as judges hand down a verdict on charges the far-right leader Marine Le Pen and party officials embezzled money from the European parliament.
Prosecutors asked for a €300,000 (£250,000) fine, a prison sentence and a five-year ban from public office. Crucially, it would apply immediately, even if she appeals against it.
The court’s decision could prove a turning point for Le Pen’s political career blocking her from running in the 2027 race (she said prosecutors wanted her “political death”), and posing major questions about the future of her movement.
But it could also reignite the debate over whether such political bans are even the right tool – or should it be left to the electorate to make final decisions on election day.
Over the weekend, Le Journal du Dimanche, a Sunday paper, published a new presidential poll showing Le Pen as a runaway leader at 37%, over 10% higher than her first round result in 2022. A separate poll in Le Figaro earlier this month suggested 42% of French people wanted her to stand in 2027.
The head judge will begin reading the verdict at 10am Paris time (9am London).
I will bring you all the key reactions from Le Pen, her allies and rivals, and across Europe.
It’s Monday, 31 March 2025, and this is Europe live. It’s Jakub Krupa here.
Good morning.
