The conviction of Marine Le Pen for embezzlement may well dash her chances of replacing Emmanuel Macron as French president in 2027, and leaves the far-right party that became the country’s main opposition under her stewardship facing an uncertain future.

The fact that Le Pen was even a serious contender for the country’s highest office of state is proof of her success in softening the image of the National Rally, the movement founded by her father Jean-Marie as the National Front, and jettisoning some of its more extreme policies.