French far-right leader Marine Le Pen barred from running for public office for five years

Marine Le Pen has been barred from running for public office for five years, meaning she would not be able to run in the 2027 French presidential election.

She was found guilty of embezzling European funds to finance her French far-right National Rally (RN) party.

Le Pen expected the guilty sentence - but not this five-year ban, writes our correspondent Hugh Schofield in Paris.

Le Pen left the courtroom as the judge handed down details of the sentence.

She has also been given a four-year prison sentence - but two years are suspended, and two years will likely be spent with a tag, rather than in custody.