Marine Le Pen, a prominent far-right political figure in France, has appealed to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in an attempt to overturn a five-year ban that prevents her from running for public office. The legal request, submitted on Tuesday, calls on the court to pressure French authorities to lift the disqualification ahead of the upcoming election cycle.

In a public statement, Le Pen argued that the ban poses a serious threat to both her political rights and those of French voters, claiming it undermines the principles of democratic participation. The move comes despite her long-standing criticism of the ECHR, including past suggestions that France should withdraw from the court’s jurisdiction.

Earlier this year, Le Pen was convicted of misusing European Union funds and handed an immediate five-year ban from holding public office — a ruling that would bar her from contesting the next presidential election unless successfully overturned. She has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Although French law often delays such penalties pending appeal, the court decided to enforce the ban immediately, citing the gravity of the offense and concerns about potential repeat violations.

Le Pen’s legal team argues that the ban violates several rights guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights, including the presumption of innocence, the right to a fair appeal, and the electorate’s right to freely choose their representatives. The legal challenge had been signaled shortly after the original court ruling was issued.