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.
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Over 1,200 residents in Daegu, South Korea, were evacuated Monday as strong winds fueled a wildfire that spread across 50 hectares, forcing a highway closure. No casualties have been reported as firefighting efforts continue.
The death toll from a U.S. airstrike on a detention centre for migrants in Yemen’s northern Saada province has risen to 74, according to the Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV.
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India has finalized a $7.41 billion agreement with France to purchase 26 Rafale fighter jets for its navy, a defence ministry official confirmed to Reuters on Monday.
Over 1,200 residents in Daegu, South Korea, were evacuated Monday as strong winds fueled a wildfire that spread across 50 hectares, forcing a highway closure. No casualties have been reported as firefighting efforts continue.
The death toll from a U.S. airstrike on a detention centre for migrants in Yemen’s northern Saada province has risen to 74, according to the Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV.
President Pezeshkian, before his first official visit to Baku, emphasized the potential for Iran-Azerbaijan cooperation in trade, science, and transport, aiming to boost ties through joint investments and regional diplomacy.
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