Far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen has been banned from running for political office for five years after being found guilty of embezzling European Union funds, in a politically explosive ruling that has shattered her hopes of winning France’s 2027 presidential election.

Le Pen called her ban from running a "nuclear bomb" by the system, after a court convicted her of embezzlement and blocked her from office for five years.

Across Europe, right-wing politicians are clashing with courts over allegations of political bias. That bodes poorly for the rule of law.

Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally has organized a major protest for Paris on Sunday after a court barred her from the next French presidential election. The event in the city centre will include speeches by Le Pen and party leader Jordan Bardella.

La líder ultraderechista francesa Marine Le Pen ha denunciado como “un escándalo democrático” el fallo judicial que le impuso

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen said in an interview published Wednesday that she would use all possible legal avenues to stand in 2027 elections despite a ban on her