Marine Le Pen’s election ban in France sparks outcry from global far-right leaders

Prominent far-right and nationalist figures on Monday rallied around Marine Le Pen after a court sentenced her to a five-year ban on running for office.

“Je suis Marine!” or “I’m Marine,” Hungarian nationalist leader Viktor Orban posted in French on X, formerly known as Twitter, in reference to the rallying cry “Je suis Charlie” widely used in support after the 2015 Islamist attack on the Charlie Hebdo satirical newspaper in France.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the verdict reinforced the view put out by Moscow that “more and more European capitals are going down the path of violating democratic norms”.

Monday’s court sentence declares Le Pen ineligible to stand for president in 2027 and gave her a four-year prison sentence – half of it suspended – for embezzlement of European Parliament funds.

Although her lawyer later said she will appeal the conviction, Le Pen supporters at home and abroad criticised Monday’s ruling against her.

Le Pen will not serve time in prison. Two years of her sentence was suspended, and the other two are to be served outside jail with an electronic bracelet, the court ruled.