Marine Le Pen to Appeal Four-Year Sentence, Denounces Anti-Right Bias Amid Supporter Backlash

Marine Le Pen is preparing to challenge her recent sentencing, which includes a four-year jail term and a five-year ban from public office, following accusations of embezzling public funds. Her lawyer announced on Monday that they will appeal the conviction, asserting that it undermines democracy itself. Le Pen, leader of the National Rally, was fined £84,000 and excluded from the 2027 presidential race, a significant setback in her political career.

Following the ruling, supporters criticized the court’s apparent bias against right-wing figures. Party spokesman Laurent Jacobelli declared Le Pen is in a “fighting mood,” suggesting that the legal battle will be hard-fought as she argues that her conviction is politically motivated. Le Pen, at 56, has shifted her party from its extremist origins to attract a broader voter base, seeking to position herself favorably against potential candidates like Emmanuel Macron.

Several right-wing politicians across Europe have rallied in support of Le Pen, condemning her sentencing as a threat to democratic values. Critics allege that such legal actions systematically target Eurosceptic parties. Le Pen’s fight to reclaim her political ambitions could reshape the future of French politics, particularly with the next presidential election looming.