Le Pen finally convicted of defamation

Le Pen had accused a refugee organization of becoming an accomplice to smugglers.

Le Pen condemned

“Ms. Le Pen’s statements equating the work of the Cimade with the machinations of smugglers were unacceptable,” the organization’s lawyer Patrice Spinosi told the AFP news agency. In a TV interview in 2022, Le Pen accused the organization of “organizing illegal immigration from the Comoros to Mayotte.” She called for aid organizations to cut subsidies.

The French island in the Indian Ocean geographically belongs to the Comoros archipelago. From there, numerous people travel on fishing boats to Mayotte and survive there without a residence permit in the hope of a better future.

The party’s parliamentary group leader National Rally (RN) wanted to run for the fourth time in the presidential election in 2027. However, this is only possible if an appeal court acquits them in a case involving the embezzlement of EU funds. In the first instance she was sentenced to four years in prison and banned from running for office.

If the appeal court confirms the verdict in February 2026, the 30-year-old party leader will Jordan Bardella run in the presidential election.