22 h. ago ‘The law is the same for everyone’: Macron addresses Le Pen verdict for first time and criticises threats against judges – Europe live

French president says ‘the judiciary is independent’ following threats made against judges in case against former French far-right leader The French government expects President Trump’s tariffs to be in the range of between 20-25%, said government spokeswoman Sophie Primas on Wednesday.“They risk being pretty powerful. People are speaking of tariffs between 20 and 25 percent,” Primas told reporters. Continue reading...

Events

24 h. ago Marine Le Pen judge given police protection after death threats

A police investigation into the threats is underway

Events

31 h. 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

42 h. 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

44 h. 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

45 h. ago French justice minister urges prompt appeal hearing for Le Pen – Europe live

Gérald Darmanin stresses court timelines are outside government control as PM admits he has questions over immediate public office bansLe Pen ban is ‘political and partisan’, says French far-right party’s presidentIn Kyiv, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha has offered an update on the talks with the United States over a new minerals deal.Sybiha told a press conference held with his Lithuanian counterpart, Kestutis Budrys, that one round of consultations had already taken place and that an agreement providing for a strong American business presence in Ukraine would contribute to his country’s security infrastructure, Reuters reported. Continue reading...

Politics

45 h. ago Marine Le Pen slams ‘nuclear bomb’ court ruling as her party calls nationwide protest

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

Events

47 h. ago French far right calls for nationwide protests against Marine Le Pen ban

National Rally president says French electorate ‘must be outraged’ at judgment that would ‘rob’ them of a voice Europe live – latest updatesFrance’s far-right National Rally (RN) party is calling for nationwide demonstrations against a court decision to ban Marine Le Pen from public office for five years, seemingly wrecking her hopes of becoming president in 2027.Jordan Bardella, the RN president, said French people “must be outraged” after what he called a “disproportionate, political and partisan” judgment that would rob them of a voice in the election. Continue reading...

Events

49 h. ago ‘We will not let French people have election stolen from them,’ says Le Pen – Europe live

Far-right leader says guilty verdict was ‘a nuclear bomb’ used against her as her party president calls for protestsLe Pen ban is ‘political and partisan’, says French far-right party’s presidentIn Kyiv, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha has offered an update on the talks with the United States over a new minerals deal.Sybiha told a press conference held with his Lithuanian counterpart, Kestutis Budrys, that one round of consultations had already taken place and that an agreement providing for a strong American business presence in Ukraine would contribute to his country’s security infrastructure, Reuters reported. Continue reading...

Politics

50 h. ago Outrage grows over Marine Le Pen's blocked presidential run: Trump and European allies offer support as 'tyrannical judges' are accused of 'depriving millions of people of their representation'

Le Pen has pledged to fight the court-imposed prohibition that appeared to exclude her goal of seeking and potentially winning the French presidency in 2027.

Politics

51 h. ago Trump and Musk back Le Pen as NR’s Bardella says verdict should ‘outrage’ France – Europe live

US president calls embezzlement sentence ‘a very big deal’ as her party’s president says there will be protests this weekendBy the way, given how heavy the news cycle tends to be these days, we need to grasp every opportunity to look for something positive, so let’s celebrate the April Fools’ Day today.Send me your best April Fools’ Day stories from across Europe for a post later this afternoon – I’m on jakub.krupa@theguardian.com. Continue reading...

Politics

60 h. ago Marine Le Pen vows to fight election ban in attack on court’s ‘politician decision’ over embezzlement conviction

Marine Le Pen says she will appeal against verdict and her five-year disqualification from public office ahead of presidential elections

Politics

63 h. ago Marine Le Pen vows to fight election ban in scathing attack on court’s ‘politician decision’ after embezzlement conviction

Marine Le Pen says she will appeal against verdict and her five-year disqualification from public office ahead of presidential elections

Politics

64 h. ago Marine Le Pen attacks ban on French presidency run as a ‘political decision’

Far-right leader, who was found guilty of embezzlement of European funds, says conviction is a ‘denial of democracy’The French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has railed against a Paris court’s “political decision” to bar her from competing for the presidency in 2027, attacking the move to ban her from running for public office as “a denial of democracy”.In a day of high political drama, Le Pen was found guilty of embezzlement of European parliament funds on a vast scale, a conviction for which she was also handed a four-year prison sentence, with two of those years suspended and two to be served outside jail with an electronic bracelet. She was also ordered to pay a €100,000 (£84,000) fine. Continue reading...

Politics

67 h. ago ‘Judicial activisim’: Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro responds to Marine Le Pen case

Jair Bolsonaro criticised the ruling saying ‘left-wing judicial activisim’ was spreading round the world

Politics

69 h. ago Why has Marine Le Pen been barred from standing in French election – and can she appeal?

Marine Le Pen has been convicted of embezzlement. Here’s all you need to know

Politics

2 d. ago Fury as court bans Marine Le Pen from presidential run and hits her with four

Le Pen, 56, was handed a five-year ban from holding public office after being convicted of embezzlement by a court in France today.

Events

2 d. ago Marine Le Pen found guilty of embezzling funds. This is what you need to know

Marine Le Pen has been convicted of embezzlement. Here’s all you need to know

Politics

2 d. ago Marine Le Pen verdict throws National Rally into chaos but could boost far right | Angelique Chrisafis

Conviction is a huge blow to her party and harms her drive for respectability, while serving the victimisation narrativeEurope live – latest updatesIt is a political earthquake that is almost certain to end Marine Le Pen’s ambitions for the 2027 presidential election and throws her far-right party into chaos just as it was setting its sights on taking power in France.Barred from running for political office for five years with immediate effect after being convicted of embezzling European funds for her party, Le Pen’s political future is now thrown into doubt. She will probably not be able to mount a fourth campaign for the presidency in two years’ time. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Marine Le Pen banned from running for French president after embezzling EU funds

Le Pen handed jail sentence and immediate five-year ban from political office, excluding her from running in the French presidential elections in 2027

Politics