Le Pen allies decry witch-hunt as prosecutors threaten her French presidential hopes

Marine Le Pen, France's far-right National Front (FN) political party leader, attends a news conference at the National Assembly in Paris, France January 10, 2018. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) - Allies of French far-right leader Marine Le Pen have accused the judiciary of a witch-hunt and undue meddling in democracy after prosecutors requested she face an obligatory five-year ban from public office if convicted of misusing European Union funds.

The prosecutors' move to seek a "provisional execution" on the public office ban - a tough, rarely used tool that means the ban would stand irrespective of any appeal - casts doubt on Le Pen's chances of running in the 2027 presidential election.