Strasbourg: The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has denied Marine Le Pen's urgent request to suspend her ineligibility following her conviction in a misuse of public funds case. Le Pen, leader of the National Rally parliamentary group, sought interim relief from the five-year electoral ban, which disqualifies her from participating in elections, including the 2027 presidential race.

According to Anadolu Agency, the seven judges assigned to the case unanimously rejected her request. The court declared that there was no imminent risk of irreparable harm to rights protected by the Convention or its protocols. Consequently, the ECHR decided not to inform the French government of the provisional measure Le Pen sought.

Le Pen expressed her reaction on X, stating that her rights were not considered imminently infringed, which she argues would be the case if a dissolution occurred. She noted that while her request was dismissed, the court is still considering the merits of her argument regarding the lack of effective recourse to the provisional execution of her ineligibility sentence.

The request followed a court ruling earlier this year that sentenced Le Pen to four years in prison, including two years suspended, and imposed a five-year ineligibility period. The conviction was linked to a case involving the use of European Parliament funds to pay party staffers. As a result of the provisional execution of the sentence, Le Pen is prohibited from participating in any elections, including potential snap legislative polls should the French president decide to dissolve the National Assembly. Additionally, she has been automatically removed from her position as departmental councilor in Pas-de-Calais.