Marine Le Pen verdict, explained

+ Europe’s cultural vacuum ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Europe Edition - Today's top story: With Marine Le Pen's sentence the judiciary is giving French citizens the final say on her political future View in browser 9 July 2026 Europe Edition   Following a partially suspended three-year prison sentence for embezzlement, French far-right leader Marine Le Pen appeared on national television on Tuesday to announce that she will run in the 2027 presidential elections. She is appealing her sentence, but a final decision is unlikely before the first round of elections in May 2027. We interviewed political researcher Luc Rouban, who says the appeal itself will be of little consequence. He points out that Le Pen’s legal woes may even be an electoral gift – a prison sentence is ideal for creating the anti-establishment “chained resistance fighter” image that so many far-right figures cultivate. If Le Pen is barred from running, she would be replaced by her young deputy, Jordan Bardella. His working-class background may even make him a stronger candidate for France’s National Rally party. Le Pen is not the only European politician to broadcast bold political manoeuvres this week. After coming under pressure over an undeclared £5 million donation, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage announced his resignation as an MP. This will trigger a by-election in his parliamentary constituency – Clacton, in Essex. The twist? He’s running for re-election in his own seat. He framed the by-election as “people versus establishment”, but the UK’s three major parties have already refused to run against him. We convened a panel of experts to explain the gambit – their verdicts range from “grifting of the highest order” to “a very calculated move” and “classic Faragism”. In the EU, cultural spending has been neglected for decades, creating a “narrative vacuum” now being filled by the populist political forces that threaten the EU’s very existence. Programmes like the Capital of Culture and Erasmus exchange were cornerstones of early EU integration, but today receive just 0.15% of the bloc’s budget. As cultural diplomacy expert Deniz Torcu explains in this long read, the EU needs to learn from the big, ambitious cultural programmes of its early days. If it wants to survive, it has to “treat culture as infrastructure, as foundational to influence as roads are to trade”.   Alex Minshall Editor, Valencia   With Marine Le Pen’s sentence the judiciary is giving French citizens the final say on her political future Luc Rouban, Sciences Po Marine Le Pen was found guilty of misusing EU funds, but her eligibility to stand in the presidential election remains intact. Luc Rouban, Emeritus researcher at Sciences Po’s CEVIPOF, weighs in on the verdict. Le Pen to run for French presidency despite conviction – her protege Jordan Bardella would make a better candidate Joseph Downing, Aston University French voters have rejected Le Pen’s message twice already. Her youthful deputy may be a better bet in 2027.   Why Nigel Farage is resigning as an MP, only to stand again – expert analysis Tim Bale, Queen Mary University of London; Lone Sorensen, University of Leeds; Parveen Akhtar, Aston University Nigel Farage is triggering a by-election, appearing to be pitting people against ‘the establishment’. Culture is the far right’s secret weapon – and it’s winning over some of Europe’s most educated youth Deniz Torcu, IE University Free movement does not automatically create a sense of belonging. Why Pope Leo’s visit to Lampedusa matters for migrants, the church and global politics Sara Silvestri, City St George's, University of London Pope Leo is following in his predecessor’s footsteps by placing migrants in the focus of his pontificate. Climate law expert: Europe’s deadly heatwaves belong in court Sandra Cassotta, Aalborg University The science behind Europe’s extreme heat is clear. The response isn’t. Ukraine war sparks fears of an organised crime resurgence in Russia Adriana Marin, Coventry University Ukraine war likely to reinforce transformation to criminal networks that are more professional, militarised and embedded within state structures. A brief history of human pain Lars Arendt-Nielsen, Aalborg University While pain may be universal, our experience of it is anything but.   Why the UK government needed to apologise for its role in historical forced adoptions in England Lindsey Earner-Byrne, Trinity College Dublin; Janet Greenlees, Glasgow Caledonian University In a religious culture rooted in shame, up to half a million children in the UK and Ireland were put up for adoption without their mothers’ consent. Despite World Cup team’s diversity, France is still wrestling with unresolved issues of identity and representation Tapiwa Seremani, IÉSEG School of Management France’s ethnically diverse squad reflects the nation’s multi-faceted history: its colonial heritage, migration patterns and the French Football Federation’s training policy that dates back to the 1990s. The Vikings were more than bearded marauders but Scandinavia’s national museums continue to project that image Julia Håkansson, Lund University The Vikings are big draw for tourists and museums struggle to balance the real history. STING protein: our study found new ways for the body to activate – and possibly control – inflammation Estanislao Nistal Villán, Universidad CEU San Pablo; Sergio Rius Rocabert, Universidad CEU San Pablo Understanding inflammation is one of the biggest challenges of modern medicine. The public isn’t bored with economists, management scholars and sociologists but engaging people has conditions Quentin Plantec, TBS Education; European Academy of Management (EURAM); Cylien Gibert, TBS Education; Julien Cloarec, iaelyon School of Management – Université Jean Moulin Lyon 3; Marie-Alix Deval, ISTEC A group of researchers examine the communication barriers impacting social science professionals’ credibility and how people make sense of their expertise. How do governance frameworks operate and what can major public projects gain from them? Maude Brunet, European Academy of Management (EURAM); HEC Montréal; Olivier Choinière, European Academy of Management (EURAM); Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR); Vedran Zerjav, European Academy of Management (EURAM); Norwegian University of Science and Technology A group of researchers explored governance models in ten countries to see whether they help plan and deliver large-scale infrastructure works more responsibly and efficiently. Magnesium is essential, but supplements have limited benefits in healthy people. Here’s what the science says Maria Izquierdo-Pulido, Universitat de Barcelona; Isabella Parilli Moser, Universitat de Barcelona; Maria Fernanda Zeron Rugerio, Universitat de Barcelona Magnesium supplements generally benefit people suffering from deficiency.     You’re receiving this newsletter from The Conversation The Conversation France (assoc. 1901) 14, rue Sainte-Cécile 75009 Paris Forward to a friend  •  Unsubscribe