Briefly

FRANCE

Le Pen barred from running for office

A French court on Monday sentenced far-right leader Marine Le Pen to a five-year ban on running for office with immediate effect, throwing into doubt her bid to stand for president in 2027. She was also given a four-year prison term, with two years of the term suspended and the other two to be served outside jail with an electronic bracelet, the court ruled. Including Le Pen, nine people from her National Rally party were convicted over a scheme where they took advantage of European Parliament expenses to employ assistants who were actually working for the party.