00:00The leader of the far-right National Rally, Marine Le Pen, was found guilty of embezzling
00:07public funds and was barred from running for office for five years with immediate effect.
00:13The sentence has effectively barred her from running in the 2027 presidential race, even
00:18if she appeals, something she described earlier as political death.
00:23Eight National Rally MEPs and their 12 assistants have also been found guilty and barred from
00:29running for office.
00:30Le Pen and the 24 other members have been accused of using money intended for European
00:35Parliament aides to pay staff who worked for the party.
00:39The court estimated that the European Parliament's total loss was €2.9 million, with Le Pen
00:44personally embezzling almost half a million.
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