Paris, April 2, 2025 – The Europe Today: Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s National Rally (NR) party, has been sentenced to four years in prison and barred from running for office for five years after being found guilty of embezzling millions of euros in EU funds. The ruling, delivered on Monday, immediately disqualifies Le Pen from the 2027 presidential race, where she was widely considered the frontrunner following the NR’s parliamentary majority win in 2024.
Le Pen has vowed to appeal the decision, a process that could take years to navigate the French courts. However, the ruling effectively removes her from the political landscape in the near term, leaving NR without its longtime figurehead.
Jordan Bardella Rallies Support
Following the verdict, NR President and Le Pen’s protégé, Jordan Bardella, was among the first to denounce the ruling, calling it a politically motivated attack on the right wing and French democracy.
“French democracy is being executed,” Bardella wrote on social media, using the hashtag #JeSoutienMarine (I support Marine).
On Tuesday, he urged NR supporters to remain united and mobilized in peaceful protests over the weekend, arguing that Le Pen was being unfairly targeted.
Despite his loyalty to Le Pen, Bardella is widely seen as her potential successor. At just 29 years old, he has cultivated a strong following, particularly among younger voters, and serves as both an MEP and leader of the Patriots for Europe alliance in the European Parliament.
NR Without Le Pen?
While Bardella is a rising star, some experts question whether he can successfully lead the party in Le Pen’s absence. Political analysts note that NR has long been a “Le Pen fiefdom,” with Marine taking over leadership from her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen.
“Bardella is still quite a young politician,” said Nicholas Startin, associate professor at John Cabot University in Rome. “It would be a big step up for him to be the presidential candidate in two years’ time.”
Despite being NR’s official president, Bardella has repeatedly deferred to Le Pen. In a televised interview on Monday, she described him as “a tremendous asset” but insisted she would not step aside without a fight.
Meanwhile, Bardella has pledged his full support, stating: “I’m going to continue the fight with her to the end, hand in hand. We started this work together, and we’ll finish it together.”
When pressed by journalists about a possible presidential bid, he refused to speculate, stating that NR’s priority is to fight the ruling against Le Pen. “Until we have pursued all possible avenues to turn it around, I will refuse to put myself in this scenario,” he said.
With Le Pen’s political future uncertain, the coming months could determine whether NR remains in her grip or transitions to new leadership under Bardella.
