Paris [France], April 2: French far-right nationalist Marine Le Pen has condemned her court-imposed election ban as a politically motivated attack by her opponents.
"The establishment has dropped a nuclear bomb. If they're resorting to such extreme measures, it's because we are on the verge of winning," Le Pen said in Paris on Tuesday, referring to the presidential election in 2027.
She accused her rivals of escalating their efforts after previous attempts to undermine her had failed. Le Pen was seen as a front-runner in the race to replace Emmanuel Macron, who cannot stand for a third term.
Le Pen, 56, was found guilty on Monday of embezzling EU funds and sentenced to a five-year ban from running for office. The ruling takes immediate effect. Le Pen was also given a four-year prison sentence, but it will only begin once no further legal recourse remains.
Source: Qatar Tribune