Judge Bénédicte de Perthuis Delivers Verdict in Marine Le Pen’s Trial

In a lengthy process, Judge Bénédicte de Perthuis, president of the Paris court, announced the verdict and sentences for Marine Le Pen on March 31, 2025. The judge, known for her strict demeanor and former experience at Ernst & Young, stated that the court did not wish to prolong the agony but would provide explanations regarding its decision. During the announcement, Le Pen shook her head in disagreement and eventually left the courtroom before her sentence was fully disclosed. Le Pen received a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended and the remaining two under house arrest. Additionally, she was barred from running for public office for five years due to misuse of EU funds. A fine of €100,000 was also imposed. This ruling is considered a significant blow to both Le Pen’s political future and her party, the National Rally, which aims to present itself as a clean alternative to traditional parties. The court found Le Pen and others guilty of misappropriating public funds through fraudulent contracts, amounting to €4.6 million over nearly 12 years.