2 w. ago French presidential hopeful sparks outrage with bizarre remote island migrant plan

Even far-right leader Marine Le Pen criticised Laurent Wauquiez's Saint Pierre and Miquelon idea

Politics

2 w. ago Marine Le Pen claims claims inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr

Leader is appealing the court’s decision to ban her from running in the 2027 election

Politics

2 w. ago Marine Le Pen ruling is fuel for the global right’s attacks on court authority

Rightwing and populist leaders are seizing on conviction to push narrative they are being silenced – but legal experts disagreeThe three-word message, launched minutes after the verdict came in, was succinct in its solidarity. “Je suis Marine!” Hungary’s Viktor Orbán posted on social media after France’s far-right leader, Marine Le Pen, was found guilty of embezzling European parliament funds and barred immediately from running for public office.Messages soon came tumbling in from Brazil to Belgium, hinting at how rightwing nationalist and populist leaders had seized on the ruling to push their own narrative. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Le Pen vows to fight ‘political’ ruling, as France’s main parties stage rival rallies

Far-right leader tells supporters she is victim of ‘witch hunt’, while radical left says RN’s mask has slipped• What is Marine Le Pen guilty of in National Rally embezzlement case?French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has told supporters in Paris she would fight “a political, not a judicial ruling” that could bar her from the next presidential election, as a rival rally denounced an “existential threat” to the rule of law after her conviction for embezzling public funds.“This decision has trampled on everything I hold most dear: my people, my country and my honour,” the figurehead of the far-right National Rally (RN) told a crowd of flag-waving supporters as the country’s three main political movements staged events in the Paris. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Marine Le Pen claims ‘existence of France is at stake’ at first far

Le Pen has appealed the court’s decision to ban her from running in the 2027 election

Politics

2 w. ago Marine Le Pen says she ‘will not give in’ after barred from standing for president

Watch the moment Marine Le Pen told supporters she “will not give in” after being banned from running for president of France in 2027. (Sunday 6 April)

Politics

2 w. ago France braced as far right and leftwing parties plan rallies in wake of Le Pen decision

French prime minister calls for rival gatherings to be held in a spirit of ‘calm, mutual respect and responsibility’France’s far right is hoping for a massive public show of support tomorrow in a “people’s protest” against Marine Le Pen being barred from standing for president in 2027.The Rassemblement National (National Rally – RN) party called for a nationwide demonstration under the banner “Save Democracy” after Le Pen was found guilty in a €4m (£3.4m) embezzlement trial. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago ‘More will come to us now’: what does Le Pen verdict mean for far

Despite mixed views across France over RN leader since conviction, people are still joining her party in supportNear a roast chicken stand at a rural market, Jocelyn Dessigny was giving out leaflets bearing a photograph of the French far-right leader Marine Le Pen and the words “Save democracy!”“It is a political attack,” he said of Le Pen’s criminal conviction this week. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago US’s Rubio shrugs off market falls at Nato press conference – Europe live

US secretary of state says ‘markets will adjust’ during press conference following Nato summit in BrusselsAsked further about Ukraine, Rutte lists a number of projects by Nato member states, including Poland, Denmark, and the Czech Republic.He says that “the shortest answer” to question on safety guarantees is to adopt measures that make sure that “Putin will never, ever try again to get one square kilometer or one square mile of Ukraine in the future, that he knows that there is a deterrence and a defence by which Ukraine can never be attacked in the future.” Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Marine Le Pen is 'guilty as hell' and deserves election ban, journalist Anne

The ban has posed uncomfortable questions about France's democracy, with US President Donald Trump piling on pressure by echoing the slogan 'Le Pen must be freed'.

Politics

2 w. ago Mark Rutte says US tariffs do not violate Nato commitments on ‘eliminating conflict in international economic policies’ – Europe live

Nato secretary general says ‘we have seen many examples of fights over tariffs in the past’ when pressed on US tariffsAsked further about Ukraine, Rutte lists a number of projects by Nato member states, including Poland, Denmark, and the Czech Republic.He says that “the shortest answer” to question on safety guarantees is to adopt measures that make sure that “Putin will never, ever try again to get one square kilometer or one square mile of Ukraine in the future, that he knows that there is a deterrence and a defence by which Ukraine can never be attacked in the future.” Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago Trump offers backing for Marine Le Pen ahead of rally in Paris to show support for convicted politician – Europe live

US president attacks French judiciary as frustration grows in France with Trump’s policies; part of French left prepares counter demonstration in ParisSomewhere between ecstatic posts about the effect of tariffs – leaving markets in turmoil with losses in trillions of dollars and about $5m Trump golden card for wealthy immigrants looking to move to the US Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Donald Trump demands France 'Free Marine Le Pen' and brands her presidential election ban a 'witch hunt'

Marine Le Pen, 56, was convicted of creating fake jobs at the EU parliament and taking advantage of expenses to employ assistants actually working for her party.

Politics

3 w. ago Germany could BAN AfD candidates from running for office under proposed new rules

The law would block those with 'multiple convictions of inciting to hatred' from standing in elections, according to a draft agreement between the parties seen by German newspaper Die Welt.

Politics

3 w. ago Marine Le Pen judge given police protection after death threats

A police investigation into the threats is underway

Events

3 w. ago France’s left is celebrating Le Pen’s conviction. But gloating will make it harder to beat the far right | Georgios Samaras

Beware the backlash strategies used by Trump and Berlusconi. It is vital that the National Rally leader isn’t able to capitalise on this verdictThe verdict is in: the National Rally (NR) and its leader, Marine Le Pen, have been found to have employed fictitious European parliament assistants between 2004 and 2016. The fraudulent scheme enabled the misappropriation of around €2.9m in European funds, and Le Pen has now been barred from holding public office for five years. Could this mark the end for the National Rally? Highly unlikely – and the reason lies in the party’s strategy.During the trial, Le Pen deliberately maintained silence in response to the allegations – a tactic some outlets dismissed as evidence of a weak defence, even questioning her credibility. Yet this quiet is far from a sign of weakness; it reflects a long-established approach that consistently shuns conventional manoeuvres in favour of an intentionally unpredictable stance.Georgios Samaras is assistant professo...

Politics

3 w. ago Could Marine Le Pen’s guilty verdict help fuel the far right? – podcast

The parliamentary leader of France’s far-right National Rally party, Marine Le Pen, has been banned from public office for five years for embezzlement, ruining her chance of a presidential run. Angelique Chrisafis reportsIt is a sentence that has prompted anger among rightwing leaders across the world and led to accusations that democracy is being threatened. This week, Marine Le Pen, the parliamentary leader of the National Rally (RN), the largest opposition party in the French parliament, was banned for five years from public office for embezzlement. Along with more than 20 others, she was found to have used money for European parliament assistants to pay party workers.The shock sentence could end Le Pen’s hopes of running for president in 2027. She is now appealing and has hit back furiously, as have her supporters and allies. Some of her support could hurt her more than it helps, however. The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said in response that “more and more European capi...

Politics

3 w. ago What is Marine Le Pen guilty of in National Rally embezzlement case?

The far-right leader has been banned from running for office for five years after an EU parliament fake jobs scamAfter a nine-week trial, the French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was this week found guilty of the embezzlement of European parliamentary funds through a fake jobs scam of an unprecedented scale and duration. She was banned from running for office for five years with immediate effect, which could prevent her making a fourth bid for the French presidency in 2027.She has said she will appeal against the verdict and sentence, which also included a four-year prison term – with two years suspended and two to be served outside jail with an electronic bracelet – and €100,000 (£84,000) fine. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago French ministers condemn threats to judges in Marine Le Pen case

Senior figures also reject claim verdict against Le Pen on embezzlement charges was ‘political and partisan’French ministers have condemned threats against the judges who convicted the far-right leader Marine Le Pen and banned her from public office for five years – threatening her 2027 presidential run – and rejected accusations the verdict was “political and partisan”.France’s prime minister, François Bayrou, told the Assemblée nationale the trial judges had his “unconditional support” after they found Le Pen guilty of embezzlement charges, throwing France into political chaos. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Marine Le Pen condemns ‘nuclear bomb’ court ruling as party urges nationwide protests

Le Pen has vowed to fight a ban on her standing at the presidential elections after being convicted of embezzlement

Events