Marine Le Pen might be banned from public office for five years because of a scandal involving EU funds.

Marine Le Pen, leader of France's far-right party, has been banned from running for office for five years. This is because she was found guilty of misusing money from the European Union.

The ruling stops her from being a candidate in the next French presidential election. Le Pen has said she will fight the decision in court, but it's uncertain if she will succeed.

Le Pen was given a two-year house arrest sentence with an ankle bracelet, but this won't happen until all appeals are finished. She was also given a fine of 100,000 euros, about $108,000.

This verdict comes at a bad time for Le Pen, as her popularity in opinion polls was at a record high. She had been trying to make her party seem less extreme and more acceptable to voters.

If the ban stays, it could open the door for Jordan Bardella, the current party president, to run for president. However, some question if he has the same level of support as Le Pen.