PARIS − French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was convicted of embezzlement on Monday and handed an immediate five-year ban from public office, a sentence that will bar her from running in the 2027 presidential race unless she successfully appeals beforehand.

E VEN BEFORE the sentence was pronounced, Marine Le Pen swept out of the courtroom, her handbag dangling from her arm. The French hard-right leader had heard enough, and had reason to fear the worst.

When French far-right leader Marine Le Pen accused the judiciary of deploying a "nuclear bomb" to blow up her presidential hopes, she added France to the countries where accusations of "lawfare" - political meddling by judges - are gaining currency.

Speaking to the World At One's Sarah Montague, Bruno Gollnisch - a former MEP who was a co-defendant alongside Le Pen and was also found guilty - says the ruling goes "against all principles of law".

The ruling in a Paris court that the far-right leader is guilty of misappropriating public funds will probably eliminate her from the 2027 presidential election.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that French far-right leader Marine Le Pen's conviction and resulting prohibition from running in the 2027 presidential election was a "very big deal."

The U.S. State Department says Marine Le Pen's ban from France's 2027 election is 'concerning':::: Tammy Bruce, State Department spokesperson"Regarding Marine Le Pen, I might disagree with your casting of her as a far right individual.