Le Pen hits out at judge

Hello. French far right leader Marine Le Pen has been banned from running for public office for five years after being found guilty of embezzling EU funds, ruling her out of the 2027 presidential race. We'll also be answering whether or not Donald Trump could really serve a third term as US president. Plus, footage from Canada shows trees snapping following an ice storm.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Shock Le Pen sentence rocks far right

Le Pen left the courtroom before the judge has finished handing down details of the sentence. Credit: Reuters

Marine Le Pen, one of the front-runners for France's 2027 presidential election, looks to be out of the race. The far right leader has been barred from running for public office for five years, after being found guilty of embezzling European funds to finance her National Rally (RN) party. In her first public comments since the verdict this morning, Le Pen told French TV station TF1 that it was a "political decision" and claimed that the rule of law was violated. She added that she is "innocent" and will appeal "as soon as possible". So, what next for France's far right, asks Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield?

GET UP TO SPEED

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Can Trump serve a third term as US president?

Donald Trump has spoken of a third term on more than one occasion. Credit: EPA

President Donald Trump has said he is "not joking" about wanting to serve a third term, despite the fact that the US Constitution prohibits this. In an interview with NBC News on Sunday, Trump said there are "methods" by which he could remain in office, and some his supporters have suggested there's a loophole which could be exploited. So, just how feasible is this?

What does the US Constitution say?

The US Constitution seems to rule out anyone having a third term. The 22nd Amendment states: "No person shall be elected to the office of the president more than twice, and no person who has held the office of president, or acted as president, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected president shall be elected to the office of the president more than once."

What about this 'loophole'?

Trump's supporters argue that the 22nd Amendment only explicitly bans someone being "elected" to more than two presidential terms - and says nothing of "succession". Under this theory, Trump could be the vice-presidential running-mate to another candidate - perhaps his own vice-president, JD Vance - in the 2028 election. If they win, the candidate could be sworn into the White House and then immediately resign - letting Trump take over by succession.

Could this be Trump's path to a third term, then?

Unlikely. Derek Muller, an election law professor at the University of Notre Dame, said the Constitution's 12th Amendment says "no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of president shall be eligible to that of vice-president of the United States". That means serving two terms in office disqualifies anyone from running as a vice-presidential candidate, in his view.