Prison sentence leaves Le Pen's presidential plans in tatters

PRESIDENTIAL frontrunner Marine Le Pen has vowed to fight on after she was banned from public office for five years following her corruption conviction.

- By Peter Allen in Paris

The far-Right National Rally politician was also given a four-year jail sentence but two will be served under house arrest with an electronic tag while the other two are suspended.

She stormed out of the Paris Correctional Court after three judges found her guilty of "embezzling public funds" from the European Parliament.

Banned

Le Pen is now banned from running for president in 2027 despite being favourite to take over from Emmanuel Macron.

While Le Pen, 56, can appeal her sentence, the veto on public office will remain in place.

Last night she declared she would fight on "until the end" as she denounced the court ruling as a "political decision".