Russian MoD:

The Ukrainian Armed Forces continued to attack the Russian energy infrastructure over the past 24 hours.

The key issue is whether the court will impose a ban preventing Marine Le Pen from running for office.

If such a ruling is issued, Le Pen — currently leading in the polls — would be barred from running in the 2027 presidential election.

Recent surveys indicate she could easily win the first round with 34% to 35% of the vote if the election were held soon.

Le Pen has previously claimed that France has become a “republic of judges” and that her “political elimination” is being sought.

BREAKING: French court bans Marine Le Pen from holding public office.

Le Pen has been sentenced to ineligibility (inéligibilité).

Le Pen — currently leading in the polls — has been effectively barred from running in the 2027 presidential election.

Kremlin on the Le Pen ban:

More and more European capitals are following the path of trampling on democratic norms.

French politician Éric Ciotti after Le Pen ban:

I wonder if France is still a democracy.

Hungary's Prime Minister Orban after France's Le Pen ban:

Je suis Marine! (I'm Marine!)

BREAKING: French court bars Marine Le Pen from holding public office for five years, effective immediately.

Marine Le Pen has been sentenced to four years in prison, with two years suspended.

Le Pen has been barred from 2027 Presidential Election run.

French Politician Jordan Bardella on Le Pen ban:

"This is the execution of French democracy."

Bardella is likely to take her place as the party's candidate for 2027 election.

Italian Politician Matteo Salvini on Le Pen ban:

This is a declaration of war from Brussels.

European stock markets: Paris, Frankfurt, and Milan drop over 2% by mid-session after Le Pen ban by French court.

Commander of IRGC Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh:

Those who live in glass houses don’t throw stones — the Americans have at least 10 bases with 50,000 troops in the region.

It’s as if they’re sitting in a glass room.

Far-Right Leader Leads Romania’s Presidential Polls

George Simion, head of the far-right AUR party, tops a new poll ahead of Romania’s presidential election with 31.7% support, surpassing rivals:

PSD (ruling party): 21.2%
Victor Ponta (ex-PM): 21.1%
Nicușor Dan (Bucharest Mayor): 20.8%

Key Points on Simion:

Pushes to restore Romania’s pre-WWII borders, including claims on parts of Moldova, Ukraine, and Bulgaria.

Banned from Ukraine for nationalist rhetoric.

Criticizes mainstream politicians but remains pro-EU—for now.

Far-right candidate Calin Georgescu was barred from the May election due to electoral violations. His 2024 win was overturned over Russian interference and illegal campaign funds.

Source: Reuters

CONTEXT: Marine Le Pen Found Guilty in EU Funds Embezzlement Case

Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Rally, was found guilty today, in a major embezzlement case involving EU funds misused between 2004 and 2016.

Embezzlement: The EU’s anti-fraud office (OLAF) found that Marine Le Pen misused €136,994 in EU funds, while her father Jean-Marie Le Pen diverted over €303,000.

A Paris court later estimated the total damages at €2.9 million. Investigators allege Le Pen oversaw the misappropriation of up to €3.7 million.

• Conviction: Le Pen and 20 others, including MEPs and aides, misused EU money meant for parliamentary staff.

• Sentence: 4 years in prison (2 suspended via electronic monitoring), €100,000 fine.

• Political Ban: Barred from running for office for 5 years—effectively ending her 2027 presidential bid.

• Party Fine: National Rally fined €2 million.

🇫🇷 Bardella to Step In as Le Pen Barred from 2027 Race

With Marine Le Pen convicted of embezzlement and banned from public office for five years, National Rally President Jordan Bardella is now widely seen as the party’s likely candidate for France’s 2027 presidential election.

• Bardella, Le Pen’s 28-year-old protégé, has led the RN since 2022 but remains less prominent nationally.

• With Le Pen sidelined, Bardella must now fill the void and build his own public profile ahead of 2027.

• Bardella is now about to be the far-right’s de facto leader and a "shadow president" in opposition strategy.

NEW: There should be some kind of deadline for Russia accepting a ceasefire in Ukraine, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said after a foreign ministers' meeting in Madrid.

Three of the four American soldiers lost in Lithuania have been found dead. The search for the last one continues.

Brazil's Bolsonaro:

Situation faced by Le Pen mirrors what I am going through here.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico: von der Leyen called me idiot

“Today, I had a phone call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

We discussed two topics. The first was the tariffs imposed against us [Europe]. She absolutely tore into me:

— Robert, what have you done? Why on earth did you negotiate with Trump like that? Are you out of your mind?

She berated me for half an hour… calling me a complete idiot.”

China, Japan and South Korea have reached a consensus that the countries will jointly respond to US tariffs.

Source: Chinese state media