French far-right figurehead, Marine Le Pen, has been banned from running for political office for five years. This was the verdict as a Paris court found her guilty of embezzling European Union funds.
The court also handed Le Pen a four-year prison sentence with two years suspended, but she will serve it under house arrest.
Le Pen has also been asked to pay a €100,000 ($108,000) fine.
Her lawyer has already confirmed Le Pen will file an appeal.
Le Pen’s party, National Rally, RN, was ordered to pay €2 million in fines for the €4.1 million that it was accused of embezzling.
Judge Bénédicte de Perthuis noted that Le Pens actions amounted to a serious and lasting attack on the rules of democratic life in Europe, but especially in France.
De Perthuis said Le Pens immediate ban on running for office was tied to democratic public unrest that would result from the election of a person convicted of embezzlement.
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