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We're pausing our live coverage now, following a momentous day for French and European politics.

Marine Le Pen was today barred from running in the French elections for five years after she was found guilty of embezzlement.

She - along with a series of other right-wing politicians at home and abroad - labelled the ruling a "political" decision.

The rhetoric around the criticism has caused concern for the welfare of a senior judge, while the justice minister said "threats" are not acceptable in a democracy.

Le Pen will appeal against the decision, but that's a process that can take months or even years and may not come in time for her to run in 2027.

Scroll down to catch up on how it all unfolded today - or check the key points above for a play-by-play of the main developments.

France's justice minister has hit out at some of the reaction to Marine Le Pen's sentence.

Gerald Darmanin said on social media the "threats" against judges are "unacceptable" and "worrying for the independence of the judicial authority".

Marine Le Pen's supporters are holding on to one hope that still remains for their leader, our Europe correspondent Adam Parsons has said.

"Let's say, in a year's time she might find the evidence to support it [her appeal], she may be cleared, she may have that ineligibility ban reduced, she may be allowed to run in 2027," Parsons said.

"And the momentum behind her, this idea that she took on the establishment and won this very Donald Trump-line of 'they couldn't stop me, they tried, but fight, fight, fight' - I'm sure that is what she would show them."

But that remains an "optimistic" outlook, he added, with the reality being that is "extremely unlikely".

"Instead, the trend is now looking around to see who can lead them," Parsons said.

"That's probably going to be Jordan Bardella."

'Populist spinning of these facts'

Today's judgment was not about "some accountancy mistakes" - it was about an "organised system" of embezzlement, according to a French political commentator who described the sentence as a "political earthquake".

There is debate in France over the fairness of the sentence, Agnes Poirier said, but she "urges" people to "look at the details".

"We're not talking about some accountancy mistakes," she told our chief presenter Mark Austin.

"There's been many cases in many different countries of embezzlement from the EU parliament... but a lot of the time we're talking about innocent mistakes or malicious mistakes... not an organised system, because this is what we're talking about."

The judge said the investigations showed these "were not administrative errors" but "embezzlement within the framework of a system put in place to reduce the party's costs".

"The judge... fears that they are going to do it again," Poirier added.

Asked if she believed people in France will think the sentence is harsh, Poirier said she "isn't sure" given the "seriousness of the crime". 

The commentator said the court could pass the sentence due to a "new law passed in 2016".

This is in reference to toughened anti-corruption laws passed in 2016, which has resulted in immediate political bans in France, but has been criticised by Le Pen supporters.

Marine Le Pen gave her first remarks following the sentence today in the past couple of hours - you can scroll below from 19.09 to 19.22 for more on that.

We can now bring you a clip from that interview with TF1, during which she said "millions" of French people will be denied their say.

We reported earlier Marine Le Pen's party has started a petition to support her (see our 17.09 post).

Now the rival Socialist Party has started its own version, to "support justice and its independence, the pillar of our democracy".

"Marine Le Pen's conviction fuels a massive offensive against the judicial system and its independence," the party said on social media.

"Let's not let this happen! No one is above the law." 

Some reaction from the US now to bring you.

Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the US state department, was asked about Marine Le Pen's sentence at a briefing in the past hour.

She firstly said she "disagrees" with casting Le Pen as a far-right politician, adding: "I don't know if that's meant to be derogatory or not".

She then referred to vice president JD Vance's speech at the Munich Security Conference last month, during which he criticised democracy in Europe.

"We have got to do more as the West than just talk about democratic values, we must live them," Bruce added.

"The exclusion of people from the political process is particularly concerning, given the aggressive and corrupt lawfare waged against Donald Trump here in the US."

Bruce said the Trump administration supports "the right of everyone to offer their views in the public square - agree or disagree".

Donald Trump Jr, the president's son, incorrectly posted on social media: "France is sending Le Pen to jail and barring her from running?!"

Le Pen is not going to prison, but she has been banned from running for the presidency, pending an appeal.

For context: Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records to commit election fraud during his "hush money" trial last year. 

He faced other legal cases, including over his alleged election interference - the results of which he baselessly claimed were rigged against him.

That case was dropped after he won the election in November last year.

Marine Le Pen's interview with French broadcaster TF1 is now over, but she has continued her criticism on social media of the court ruling against her.

Sharing a clip of her interview, she questioned the "legitimacy" of an elected president if she was barred from running but was acquitted on appeal. 

"We are innocent and we will appeal, hoping that a judgment will take place before the elections," she added.

Today's ruling does not mean Marine Le Pen will retire from politics, she says.

Insisting she is not "demoralised", she adds she feels "scandalised by the decision".

"I feel indignant", she says.

"I am innocent."

The interview has now ended.

Marine Le Pen says she will "fight until the bitter end", as she's asked about her potential replacement.

Jordan Bardella is tipped to take her spot on the party's ticket, and Le Pen describes him now as "wonderful strength" for her movement.

But she adds she will not give up yet, and will pursue an appeal process as "forcefully" as she can.

However, she adds she has no confidence in an appeal being heard before the nation heads to the polls.

"Let's be clear, I am eliminated but in reality it's millions of French people whose voices have been eliminated," she adds.

If she does successfully overturn the ruling in time, she said she would run for president.

Appeals in the country can take months or even years.