2 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...

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9 h. ago Election guru Steve Kornacki is leaving MSNBC for a new role — but he isn’t going far

Kornacki, along with his signature khakis, became an internet sensation during the 2020 presidential election coverage

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14 h. 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...

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15 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

15 h. ago Trump compares himself to Marine Le Pen as he tears into France for barring her from politics: 'This is a big deal'

President Donald Trump compared himself to convicted French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, calling her ban from elective office a 'very big deal.'

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16 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

21 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.

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30 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

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34 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

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34 h. ago Marine Le Pen's party calls on supporters to take to the streets amid fury over her presidential election ban and jail sentence

The leader of France's far-right party called Monday for a peaceful 'mobilisation', after Marine Le Pen was banned from running for office following an embezzlement conviction.

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39 h. ago Watch: Le Pen leaves court after being found guilty of embezzling EU funds

Marine Le Pen stormed out of court after she was banned from running in France’s 2027 presidential election, after being found guilty of embezzling funds from the European Parliament.

Events

39 h. ago Who is Marine Le Pen? Convicted politician unable to stand at next presidential election

French National Rally parliamentary leader receives a four-year prison sentence for embezzling EU funds

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39 h. ago Marine Le Pen is in 'fighting mood' and will appeal her four

France's hard-right leader will appeal her conviction for embezzlement of public funds, her lawyer said Monday, after a court handed her a five-year ban on running for office.

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40 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

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41 h. 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

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42 h. 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

42 h. 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

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43 h. ago Marine Le Pen is sentenced to four years in JAIL and BANNED from entering presidential elections as she is found guilty of embezzlement and accused of 'undermining democracy'

Presiding Judge Bénédicte de Perthuis has sentenced Le Pen, 56, to a five-year ban from politics. She has also been sentenced to four years in prison with two under an electronic bracelet and a £84k fine.

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43 h. ago Marine Le Pen jailed for four years and banned from running for French president after embezzling EU funds

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

Events

43 h. ago Marine Le Pen is BANNED from entering presidential elections as she is found guilty of embezzlement and accused of 'undermining democracy'

Presiding Judge Bénédicte de Perthuis stated Le Pen, 56, has been banned from running for office with immediate effect but details of the duration are yet to be revealed.

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