In blow to Le Pen, French constitutional court rules immediate bans from public office are legal

French far-right leader and member of parliament Marine Le Pen attends a gathering in support of detained Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal in Paris, France, March 25, 2025. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier

PARIS (Reuters) - France's constitutional court on Friday ruled local politicians can be barred from office immediately if convicted of a crime, leaving the door open for far-right leader Marine Le Pen to potentially be barred from the 2027 presidential race in an embezzlement trial concluding on Monday.

National Rally (RN) leader Le Pen, who leads polls for the 2027 presidential vote, accuses prosecutors of seeking her "political death" by asking judges to bar her from office for five years if convicted.