Summary

Watch: Le Pen leaves court before sentencing ends

Live Reporting

Edited by Rorey Bosotti and Adam Durbin, with Hugh Schofield reporting from Paris

  1. Le Pen set on appealing against 'political decision' following guilty verdict

    Marine Le Pen getting into a carReuters

    Earlier today, Marine Le Pen was found guilty of embezzling European funds to finance her French far-right National Rally (RN) party.

    In a television interview this evening, she said she would appeal against the move, describing it as "political", and arguing that she was "innocent". Le Pen also accused the court of attempting to block her from running for president in the 2027 election and said she would not let herself be "eliminated" like this.

    Le Pen was given a five-year ban on running for office with immediate effect, meaning she's barred from running in the next presidential race, unless her appeal is successful before then.

    MORE: Le Pen attacks ban from running for public office as 'political decision'

    She was also handed a €100,000 (£82,635) fine and a four-year prison sentence - two years of which will be spent with an electronic tag rather than in custody, while the other two are suspended.

    Members of RN have pushed back against the verdict, with some describing it as "against all principles of law" and "an infringement on democracy". And party president Jordan Bardella called for a "popular, peaceful mobilisation" in support of Le Pen.

    Following these reactions, France's High Council of the Judiciary - a constitutional body formed to ensure judicial independence - called for calm in response to today's ruling and moderation in the comments made about the proceedings.

    We'll be ending our live coverage shortly, but for further reading you can take a look at BBC Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield's analysis following the events of the day.

    Thanks for joining us.

  2. 'If Le Pen doesn't run, someone else will' - Parisians react to sentence

    Caroline, a woman with a grey afro and wearing blush pink sunglasses speaks to the camera from a Parisian streetReuters

    On the streets of Paris, there was mixed reactions to Marine Le Pen's sentencing.

    Caroline, a graphic designer, told the Reuters news agency that the far-right National Rally (RN) party will continue to exist with or without Le Pen.

    “If she doesn't run, someone else will run in her place. For example, in the party, there's what's-his-name, (Jordan) Bardella, there are other people who could run and in my opinion, her party will continue to exist,” she said.

    Project manager David said the sanctions on Le Pen are OK, but barring her from running is a restriction on voters.

    “I think we're going too far in the sense that - I think it's OK to sanction, but going as far as ineligibility deprives citizens of the possibility of casting their vote, or votes, to a potential candidate for the next presidential elections - it restricts citizens' ability to express themselves," he added.

    David, a man wearing a black cap and grey scarf, speaks to the camera from a Parisian streetReuters

  3. Justice minister says threats against judges are unacceptable

    Gerald Dermanin walks out of a building wearing a dark blue suit, white shirt and black tie as he looks to his rightGetty Images

    Shortly after Le Pen's interview, France's minister of justice weighed in to condemn threats against the judiciary following her sentencing.

    "Threats made against the judges of Paris’s Judicial Court are unacceptable in a democracy and worrying for the independence of the judicial authority," Gérald Darmanin writes on X.

    Le Pen described today's verdict as a "political decision" and proclaimed her innocence, arguing the judge in charge of the case had yet to provide an explanation for the ruling.

  4. Le Pen comes out fighting after difficult day in court

    Hugh Schofield
    Paris correspondent

    At the end of a momentous day in French politics, Marine Le Pen came out fighting.

    No, she said, she had no intention of withdrawing from the scene – despite the ineligibility imposed on her by the court.

    She had spent 30 years fighting injustice and she would keep doing so to the end, Le Pen said. Millions of voters had their hopes vested in her.

    The leader of the National Rally was found guilty of misusing EU money to pay for party workers, and part of her punishment was to be barred from standing for office with immediate effect.

    But she said this was a denial of natural justice. She was appealing, and in law an appeal was a new trial – so how could she be punished already?

    What would happen, she asked, if she was eventually acquitted on appeal after an election in which she was prevented from taking part?

    What effect would that have on the legitimacy of whoever became the next president?

  5. 'Unfair and calculated' or 'justice done'? French people react

    We have now heard Marine Le Pen's reaction to today's unexpected ruling, and from a slew of politicians.

    On the streets of Hénin-Beaumont, a far-right stronghold and Le Pen's constituency, voters told the AFP news agency how they see the verdict:

    • "It's unfair, it's an injustice, it's really calculated, manipulated and badly done," Marc says, adding it is "a political death sentence" and about breaking up Le Pen's National Rally party
    • For Stacy others have "done worse than that, and they haven't been punished". But, she also says "it's justice, that's the way it is, but I hope for her sake that she comes out of it a lot stronger"
    • Leïla on the other hand is pleased justice has been served. She says: "Justice is done, it's perfect, when you come back to justice, as she herself said a few years ago: 'you're convicted, you don't run', so that applies to her as well. It applies to everyone."
    • And for Isabelle, it's just normal to take responsibility for your actions, no matter who you are. "It's normal that when you make a mistake you pay for it. It's not because she's Marine Le Pen that she shouldn't pay," she adds.

  6. Key takeaways from Le Pen's interview

    Marine Le Pen looking at the camera during her interviewReuters

    In her interview earlier this evening, Marine Le Pen defended herself against today's court decision and insisted she was "innocent".

    Let's recap what else we heard from her:

    • Le Pen accused the judge who delivered the guilty verdict of handing down a "political decision", and the court of attempting to block her for running for president in 2027
    • She claimed the rule of law was totally violated and said she would appeal against the verdict "as soon as possible"
    • Le Pen described Jordan Bardella - the 29-year-old president of National Rally - as a "wonderful asset for the party" but said she would not let herself be "eliminated" like this
    • "There are millions of French people who believe in me. I've been fighting for you for 30 years," she said
    • She also said she would not appeal to French President Emmanuel Macron for a pardon, and that she was confident the court of appeal would review her case "neutrally" and find she is innocent

  7. Le Pen's lawyer says he will request pre-2027 appeal

    A lawyer for Marine Le Pen says he will formally request that an appeal for his client takes place before 2027, when France's next presidential election will be held.

    Rodolphe Bosselut also tells broadcaster BFMTV that Le Pen was shocked by the court's decision to ban her from running for office for five years over embezzling EU funds.

  8. Le Pen must serve her sentence 'like any other citizen', says green party

    National secretary of Les Ecologistes, Marine TondelierReuters

    We're seeing more reaction to Le Pen's sentencing coming in, with the national secretary of the green political party Les Écologistes, Marine Tondelier, saying she must serve her sentence "like any other French citizen".

    "When you lecture others on exemplary behaviour, you must first apply it to yourself. That is what ultimately ensures integrity and the proper functioning of public institutions," she says.

    "It is therefore normal that someone aspiring to the presidency respects these fundamental principles of integrity. She did not respect them, and the best way to avoid being convicted is not to seek immunity for oneself but to follow the law, to not commit crimes or offences."

    Meanwhile, the Socialist Party also reacted to the verdict earlier today, calling on everyone to "respect the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law".

    "The Socialist Party remains mobilised to defend republican values ​​and transparency in public life, essential to the trust of citizens," the party said in a statement.

  9. Le Pen says she is scandalised and indignant, not demoralised

    Le Pen says that in a democracy it's "the voters who decide".

    "I’m telling you tonight, I’m not demoralised. Like you, I’m scandalised, indignant, but this indignation, this feeling of injustice, is an additional push to the fight that I fight for them [the voters]," she says.

    And with that the interview has ended.

  10. I will not be eliminated like this, Le Pen insists

    Marine Le Pen speaking on televisionGetty Images

    Le Pen is next asked by the interviewer about the prospect of Jordan Bardella - the 29-year-old president of National Rally - running for the 2027 presidential election in her place.

    Responding, she describes Bardella as a "wonderful asset for the party", but says she will not let herself be "eliminated" like this.

    "There are millions of French people who believe in me. I've been fighting for you for 30 years."

  11. Le Pen calls ban worthy of 'authoritarian regimes'

    Le Pen says the judge handed her a five-year ban but has currently not provided any explanation for the decision.

    She says she will appeal against the verdict "as soon as possible" and proclaims that she is "innocent".

    "This evening, there are millions of French people who are outraged seeing that in France, the country of human rights, judges have implemented measures that are reserved to authoritarian regimes," she says.

  12. Judge made 'political decision' with guilty verdict, Le Pen says

    Marine Le Pen speaks on televisionGetty Images

    Marine Le Pen is now giving her interview to French broadcaster TF1.

    She accuses the Paris judge that delivered the guilty verdict against her earlier today of handing down "a political decision" - and the court of attempting to block her from running in the 2027 presidential election.

    Le Pen claims the rule of law was totally violated.

  13. Le Pen due to speak to French media shortly

    Marine Le Pen will make her first public remarks since her conviction and sentencing in a few minutes time.

    An interview with her is due to air shortly.

    We'll be bringing you all the key lines from her interview with French TV outlet TF1 here.

    Marine Le Pen leaving the RN's headquarters earlier, she is about to get into a car. Journalists stand behind her holding microphones or filmingReuters

    Le Pen leaving the RN's headquarters earlier following an emergency party meeting

  14. Who is Marine Le Pen?

    Marine Le PenGetty Images

    Marine Le Pen is a lawyer and politician who ran for the French presidency in 2012, 2017 and 2022.

    She is the daughter of Jean-Marie Le Pen, who was the founder of France's far-right National Front (FN).

    She took over the party in 2011 - and in 2015 expelled her father over a series of inflammatory remarks and a feud with his daughter. This was in part to do with his view that the Holocaust was a "detail of history".

    In 2018, the party was rebranded as the National Rally (RN).

    A political player in France for years, Le Pen's message - anti-immigration and anti-EU - has been consistent and unchanged.

    In the lead up to the 2017 election she softened her tone, for example by saying she did not regard Islam as “incompatible” with French democracy. Her party also tried to build bridges with the Jewish community.

    Le Pen later stepped down as head of RN and in 2022 Jordan Bardella became its leader.

    She was aiming for the presidency in the upcoming 2027 election, but after today her chances are looking increasingly slim.

  15. RN president calls for 'popular, peaceful mobilisation' in support of Le Pen

    Jordan Bardella, the 29-year-old president of the Marine Le Pen's National Rally party (RN), has described her the ban on her running as a presidential candidate in 2027 as a "democratic scandal".

    Writing on X, Bardella also calls for a "popular, peaceful mobilisation", posting a link to an online petition which read:

    "It is not just Marine Le Pen who is being unjustly sentenced: it is French democracy that is being executed. It is no longer a government of judges, but a dictatorship of judges, which wishes to prevent French people from expressing themselves."

    "Let's show those who want to circumvent democracy that the will of the people is stronger!"

  16. France's constitutional body calls for calm in response to today's ruling

    France's High Council of the Judiciary, a constitutional body formed to ensure judicial independence, has released a statement expressing concern at the reactions to today's verdict.

    Members expressed concern about "the virulent reactions" to the ruling, saying they are likely to seriously call into question the independence of the judiciary.

    Legal proceedings must take place in a "calm atmosphere" and threats personally targeting the judge in charge of the case cannot be accepted in a democratic society, the statement continues.

    It concludes by calling for moderation in the comments made about today's proceedings.

  17. Le Pen co-defendant says sentence is 'against all principles of law'

    John Rigby
    BBC Newshour

    Bruno Gollnisch smiling as he looks to his left while standing outside a courtroom in a black suit, light blue shirt and blue tie. Three French police officers in blue uniforms stand behind him, further back are members of the press with camerasGetty Images

    Former RN MEP Bruno Gollnisch pictured in court in September

    A leading member of National Rally tells the BBC that today’s verdict is “absolutely incredible” and “against all principles of law”.

    Bruno Gollnisch is a former Member of the European Parliament for the party and a current member of the national council of Le Pen's National Rally.

    He's also one of more than 20 members or former members of RN convicted today for misusing EU funds for party affairs.

    “I think it’s absolutely incredible. I think this judgement is against all principles of law and the separation of power at the basis of our constitutions," he tells BBC Newshour.

    Gollnisch describes the conviction as "an infringement on democracy" and warns that there would be "increasing anger in the people".

    He adds that the party "would survive anyway" but that "it will ask for revenge", and that the use of money was “perfectly natural and the common practice in the European Parliament".

  18. Musk likens Le Pen verdict to Trump's conviction

    Musk stands on stage in front of an electronic background of red and white stripes, holding a plastic water bottle and looking up from under his browReuters

    Billionaire Elon Musk has weighed in on Le Pen's sentencing on social media, calling it a political abuse of the legal system.

    "This will backfire, like the legal attacks against President Trump," he says in another post, referencing the US president's conviction for falsifying business records relating to a payment made to adult-film star Stormy Daniels.

    Musk had publicly campaigned for Le Pen and the RN party on his social media platform X.

    Similarly, former President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro has also described the ruling as "left-wing judicial activism" in comments reported by the Reuters news agency.

    In 2023, Bolsonaro was barred from public office until 2030 for abuse of power ahead of the 2022 elections, when he summoned ambassadors to attack the legitimacy of Brazil's voting system.

  19. Analysis

    The dilemma facing National Rally leaders in their emergency talks

    Hugh Schofield
    Paris Correspondent

    Maybe Marine Le Pen was naive in not predicting this outcome. It certainly appears as if her National Rally party was singularly unprepared for it.

    So as they meet in emergency session after the verdict, party leaders are in a dilemma.

    Do they continue as if there is a still a chance Le Pen will run in 2027?

    In theory there is still a small possibility.

    She has already launched an appeal. The appeal could be accelerated and take place at the end of this year or early 2026. A verdict would follow in the spring.

    A different decision at the appeal hearing could lessen the period of ineligibility, or remove it altogether – in which case she could still run.

    But the chances must be regarded as slim.

    Or, should they proceed with plan B – that is to say, with naming party president Jordan Bardella as de facto the man who will run in Le Pen’s place?

    That might be a more realistic assessment of what lies ahead.

    But to turn to Bardella too quickly would be unseemly. And anyway, not everyone in the party is a fan.

  20. 'French democracy is being executed,' Bardella says

    A close up of BardonellaReuters

    Jordan Bardella, the president of the National Rally party, is calling for a "peaceful" mobilisation after the Le Pen verdict.

    In a statement, he describes the sentence as a "democratic scandal" and says "French democracy is being executed".

    "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," he says.

    "Through our popular and peaceful mobilisation, let us show them that the will of the people is stronger," he says, prompting his followers on X to sign a petition of support.

    "Let's show those who want to circumvent democracy that the will of the people is stronger!"