Original link: Far-right leader Marine Le Pen banned from 2027 presidential race, throwing French politics into disarray / CNN.
Something doesn't sound right.
4 years in prison seems very harsh. It sounds like the crime was using money that should have been spent for staff helping the partys members of the european parliament on staff helping the partys politicians outside of the european parliamen. That is not OK and requiring return of funds and paying a fine seems very appropriate. But 4 years in prison sounds way over the top to me.
And the reason behind the 5 year ban on running for office:
The court’s presiding judge, Bénédicte de Perthuis, said Le Pen’s actions amounted to a “serious and lasting attack on the rules of democratic life in Europe, but especially in France.” She said Le Pen’s immediate ban on standing for office was tied to “democratic public unrest” that would result from the election of a person convicted of embezzlement.also seems a bit over the top given how many high ranking french politicians have been convicted of crimes. Criminal politicians are not good, but the democracy in France has survived.
The case sounds a bit similar to the case against the Danish fomer EU parliament member Morten Messerschmidt. Which resulted in 3 trials resulting in conviction, verdict anullment and acquital.