Le Pen slams court ban as "witch hunt"

Marine Le Pen has vowed to fight a five-year ban from office, denouncing the court ruling as a political attack.

France's far-right National Rally (RN) leader Marine Le Pen has denounced a court ruling that bans her from holding office for five years, calling it a "witch hunt."

Le Pen was found guilty of helping to embezzle €2.9 million in EU funds between 2004 and 2016 to benefit her party.

She has pledged to fight the ruling and has filed an appeal.

Speaking at a rally in Place Vauban, Le Pen described the verdict as a "political decision."

A BFMTV poll conducted after Monday's ruling found that 57% of respondents in France believed justice was served fairly in Le Pen's case.

The Paris Court of Appeal stated on Tuesday that it expects to deliver a final decision by the summer of 2026, just months ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

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