TRANSCRIPT
From being the favourite for the Presidency … to being forced out of the race.
A furious Marine Le Pen left the Paris court hearing before judges had finished reading her sentence.
In the evening, she appeared on primetime television still indignant.
"There are millions of French people who are indignant, indignant to an unimaginable extent when they see that in France, the country of human rights, judges have put in place practices which we thought were reserved for authoritarian regimes."
Ms Le Pen and 20 other figures in her National Rally party were found guilty of illegally using more than 4 million Euros of EU funds to pay party staff in France.
Patrick Maisoneuve is a lawyer for the European Parliament.
"There was clearly not a single discussion or hesitation in the court with regard to the declaration of guilt.”
She was handed a four-year prison term, suspended for 2 years, as well as a fine… both on hold until after an appeal.
But the 5 year ban on seeking public office is effective immediately; and it has massive implications for French politics.
Should Ms Le Pen’s appeal fail, or not be finished in time, then heir apparent, Party president Jordan Bardella, would be her likely replacement.
He reacted to his mentor’s conviction by saying “French democracy has been killed”.
But at just 29 years of age, and without her profile, he could struggle against a centrist opponent.
From far-right allies across Europe - outrage:
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban saying “Je Suis Marine”.
Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini posting “We will not be intimidated, we will not stop: Full steam ahead my friend.”
While Elon Musk said “When the radical left can’t win via democratic vote, they abuse the legal system to jail their opponents.”
Ms Le Pen’s voters are stunned and furious…
“My reaction? I'm appalled by what's happening with Marine Le Pen. I think it's a coup d'etat, it's not right what's happening.”
But many of her critics say… it’s simply justice being done.
”If she broke the law, then she's punished like any other citizen and it just seems right to me that she should be treated like everyone else, and politicians should set an example.”
Ms Le Pen had said 2027 would be her last bid for the presidency.
Her hopes now rely on a speedy appeal.
“It’s the voters who decide in a democracy. And I am here to tell them this evening: don’t worry I am not disheartened, I am like you: scandalized, indignant, but that indignation, that sense of injustice is maybe another driver in the fight I am waging for them.”
She has ruled out asking President Macron for a pardon… saying she’ll fight until the bitter end.
