European 'Rule of Law' Under Fire as Marine Le Pen's Conviction Sparks Debate

A French court found far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen guilty of embezzling millions of euros of European Union funds and banned her from running for political office for five years, sparking debate about whether Europe's 'rule of law' is stifling the 'will of the people'. The verdict has fueled a wider discussion about the balance between upholding EU laws and allowing political leaders to express their views. Le Pen's case has raised questions about the limits of accountability for politicians and the impact of EU regulations on freedom of speech. The outcome is likely to fuel tensions within Europe over its approach to governance and democratic expression.