The far-right leader Marine Le Pen in France has been banned from holding public office for five years due to her role in embezzling EU funds, creating a significant political stir.

This ruling, which takes effect immediately, might prevent her from running in the next French presidential election.

On Tuesday, at a press conference in Paris, Le Pen stated, “The system has unleashed a nuclear bomb, clearly because we’re on the verge of winning the election, and that’s why they’re resorting to such extreme measures.”

Up to now, Le Pen, who is the daughter of the late far-right icon Jean-Marie Le Pen, has twice been the runner-up to French President Emmanuel Macron and has seen an increase in her support.

She has been sentenced to two years of house arrest with an electronic ankle monitor, along with an additional two-year suspended sentence and immediate five-year ban from public office.

Le Pen’s lawyer plans to appeal the decision, but she will remain ineligible during the appeal process, possibly keeping her out of the 2027 presidential election.

“We will defend our rights plus those of our voters, calmly and in a democratic manner,” Le Pen declared.

Although she won’t begin serving her house arrest until all appeals conclude, the ban on her candidacy will take effect immediately, regardless of her legal challenge.

The election is just two years away, and it’s uncertain whether the appeals court will rule in her favor.

The decision comes as Le Pen’s popularity is the highest it has ever been in opinion polls, as she seeks to bring her party, which she has led since 2011, into the political mainstream ahead of the upcoming presidential election.

Le Pen herself stepped back from being party president in 2021 to allow Jordan Bardella to take over so she could focus on the presidential campaign.

If Le Pen is officially banned from running, Bardella seems to be the obvious replacement.

During a news conference in Paris, Bardella stated that the “rule of law” has been replaced by a “judiciary tyranny.”

Le Pen, along with other officials from the National Rally party, was prosecuted for misusing funds intended for EU parliamentary aides to pay party staff from 2004 to 2016. This went against the 27-member bloc’s rules.

At that time, the National Rally was known as the National Front.