Frech court rejects Le Pen's appeal against enforcement of political ban
Council of State upholds ruling barring far-right leader from elections for 5 years following corruption conviction
PARIS
France's top administrative court on Wednesday rejected an appeal by far-right politician Marine Le Pen seeking to block the immediate enforcement of a five-year political ban imposed after her corruption conviction.
The Council of State examined Le Pen's challenge to a lower court ruling that barred her from holding elected office, according to French media reports.
It upheld the decision, confirming that the ban will take effect immediately.
In March, the Paris Criminal Court found Le Pen guilty of embezzling European Union funds and sentenced her to four years in prison -- two suspended and two under electronic monitoring -- along with a €100,000 ($116,491) fine. The ruling also prohibited her from running for office for five years.
Although Le Pen will not serve time in prison, her lawyers have appealed the verdict.
She also sought an interim measure from the European Court of Human Rights to suspend the political ban, but the court rejected her request on July 9.
