France’s Council of State upholds ban on Marine Le Pen’s candidacy

France's highest administrative court has rejected an appeal by far-right leader Marine Le Pen, confirming her five-year ban from standing in elections. This follows her conviction for misusing European Parliament funds.

Le Pen, who leads the nationalist Rassemblement National (RN) party, was found guilty earlier this year of diverting EU funds intended for parliamentary assistants to finance party activities.

She was given a four-year prison sentence, two of which were suspended with electronic monitoring, with a 100,000 euro fine and the electoral ban.

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As the Council of State's decision is final at a national level, Le Pen cannot appeal against it further. Her only remaining option would be to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights, arguing a violation of her political rights. However, that is a process that could take years.

^{© PHOTO ALAIN JOCARD / AFP}

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