FRENCH far-right leader Marine Le Pen has slammed Monday’s verdict banning her from standing for public office for five years.

In an interview with French TV channel TF1 on Monday evening, Ms Le Pen said the verdict was a political move aimed at preventing her from running in the 2027 presidential election and said that millions of French people “are outraged.”

Ms Le Pen was found guilty of embezzling public funds along with eight other current or former members of her party whilst serving as European Parliament lawmakers. 

Also convicted were 12 other people who served as parliamentary aides for Ms Le Pen and what is now the National Rally party, formerly the National Front.

She described the ruling as a violation of the rule of law and said she would appeal and wants the court proceedings to take place before the 2027 campaign begins.

The far-right leader was also given a four-year prison sentence, with two to be served under house arrest and two suspended — which would not apply pending appeal.

Ms Le Pen said the court should not have made her ineligible to run for office until all her chances at appeal had been exhausted, and that by doing so it was clear the court was aiming “specifically to prevent” her from being elected president.

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, who only survived a confidence vote moved by left-wing parties in February thanks to the National Rally, also criticised the immediate ban on Ms Le Pen standing.

Left-wing France Unbowed says it never expected to defeat the National Rally through the courts and will “fight it at the ballot box and in the streets.”

An opinion poll by BFMTV on Monday showed 57 per cent of French people believe that justice was served in the case without any political bias.