It seems Le Pen may be now worthy of her own thread, so here goes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cwyewv8xdp7t

Marine Le Pen has been barred from running for public office for five years, meaning she would not be able to run in the 2027 French presidential election

She was found guilty of embezzling European funds to finance her French far-right National Rally (RN) party

Le Pen expected the guilty sentence - but not this five-year ban, writes our correspondent Hugh Schofield in Paris

She left the courtroom before the judge has finished handing down details of the sentence

Le Pen has also been given a four-year prison sentence - two years will be spent with an electronic tag rather than in custody, while the other two are suspended

Reacting to the conviction, her lawyer says "it's a blow to democracy" and she intends to appeal