French far-right leader Marine Le Pen is awaiting a critical court ruling on Monday that could determine her political future. Le Pen, head of the National Rally (RN), faces accusations of embezzling over 3 million euros ($3.3 million) of European Parliament funds to pay France-based staff.
Le Pen, 56, who has made three unsuccessful bids for the French presidency, has stated that 2027 will be her final run for the top office. If barred, her party claims it would be a politically motivated attempt to eliminate her from the race. “With provisional execution, the judges have the power of life or death over our movement,” Le Pen told La Tribune Dimanche. “But I don't think they'll go that far.”
Political analysts suggest that a guilty verdict could significantly alter France’s political landscape. According to Arnaud Benedetti, a political analyst specializing in the RN’s rise, removing Le Pen from the race would be a seismic disruption. “The main opposition leader would be prevented from running by the judges,” he said.
Le Pen’s supporters argue that the charges are a politically motivated witch hunt. Her party has transformed into the largest single party in France’s parliament, and an acquittal could bolster her mainstream appeal.
However, a guilty verdict with a five-year ban could force Le Pen to step aside for her protégé, Jordan Bardella, the 29-year-old party president. While senior RN figures do not expect Le Pen to be barred, political scientist Jean-Yves Camus noted that a ban could intensify her supporters' feelings of being ostracized by the political elite.
The verdict will have broader implications beyond Le Pen’s candidacy, sparking debate about how judges influence politics and whether legal proceedings are being used to block political opponents.
A fierce khamsin dust storm cloaked the Egyptian capital in a yellow haze on Wednesday, shutting schools and cutting visibility as winds gusting to 80 kph swept across Cairo and much of the country.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 30th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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A fierce khamsin dust storm cloaked the Egyptian capital in a yellow haze on Wednesday, shutting schools and cutting visibility as winds gusting to 80 kph swept across Cairo and much of the country.
Russian drone strikes targeted the Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv and Dnipro late Tuesday, killing at least one person and injuring around 50 others, according to local officials. And, a drone strike continues in Dobropillia in Donetsk Oblast on Wednesday.
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A fierce khamsin dust storm cloaked the Egyptian capital in a yellow haze on Wednesday, shutting schools and cutting visibility as winds gusting to 80 kph swept across Cairo and much of the country.
Russian drone strikes targeted the Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv and Dnipro late Tuesday, killing at least one person and injuring around 50 others, according to local officials. And, a drone strike continues in Dobropillia in Donetsk Oblast on Wednesday.
A satellite developed by British scientists and engineers is poised to become the world’s first to capture three-dimensional measurements of Earth’s forests from space.
Operation in Iran’s Shahid Rajaei Port in the southern city of Bandar Abbas is back to normal after firefighters put off the deadly fire which broke out on Saturday, customs authorities said.
Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) has approved a coalition agreement with the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU), securing the final step needed to form a new government under Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz.
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