Katya Adler

Today's sentencing sent shockwaves around France, even amongst those who aren't natural allies of Le Pen. The BBC visited Moissac in the rural south-west.

Today's sentencing sent shockwaves around France, even amongst those who aren't natural allies of Le Pen. The BBC visited Moissac in the rural south-west.

The legal case dates back to Le Pen's years as a member of the European Parliament, ending in 2016. Today, along with more than 20 others in her Rassemblement National party, she was convicted of creating fake jobs and contracts to divert EU cash, well over three million pounds worth for her party's operations in France.

The legal case dates back to Le Pen's years as a member of the European Parliament, ending in 2016. Today, along with more than 20 others in her Rassemblement National party, she was convicted of creating fake jobs and contracts to divert EU cash, well over three million pounds worth for her party's operations in France.

The judge banned her from standing for political office for five years and sentenced her to jail. Today's ruling has set off a political earthquake in France. On the one hand, you have the hard right, the far right, who say this was an attempt to steal the presidency from them, their chance to reform France and make it great again.

The judge banned her from standing for political office for five years and sentenced her to jail. Today's ruling has set off a political earthquake in France. On the one hand, you have the hard right, the far right, who say this was an attempt to steal the presidency from them, their chance to reform France and make it great again.

But there are wider implications, those who suggest the court was biased, that it took a criminal case against Marine Le Pen for political ends to stop her and her nationalist agenda. A stony-faced Marine Le Pen headed to her party's headquarters outside Paris. She's launching a legal appeal. They're launching an online petition to support her. If she fails, the man waiting in the wings...

But there are wider implications, those who suggest the court was biased, that it took a criminal case against Marine Le Pen for political ends to stop her and her nationalist agenda. A stony-faced Marine Le Pen headed to her party's headquarters outside Paris. She's launching a legal appeal. They're launching an online petition to support her. If she fails, the man waiting in the wings...

Le Pen's political protégé, Jordan Bardella.

Le Pen's political protégé, Jordan Bardella.

but considered by many as too inexperienced for a bruising French presidential race. France was already deeply divided before today's Le Pen ruling. The schisms now run even deeper between those who believe justice has been done and others convinced French judges the French establishment is out to prevent the will of the people.

but considered by many as too inexperienced for a bruising French presidential race. France was already deeply divided before today's Le Pen ruling. The schisms now run even deeper between those who believe justice has been done and others convinced French judges the French establishment is out to prevent the will of the people.

I'm in an underground car park and I was just about to get into a car belonging to our fabulous local producer, Larry, and go off to an interview. He lives in this apartment block. And we were talking about new laws in Estonia to make it mandatory for buildings to offer underground shelters. When you told me, Larry, you have your very own bunker right here. Can I have a look?

I'm in an underground car park and I was just about to get into a car belonging to our fabulous local producer, Larry, and go off to an interview. He lives in this apartment block. And we were talking about new laws in Estonia to make it mandatory for buildings to offer underground shelters. When you told me, Larry, you have your very own bunker right here. Can I have a look?

And in the inner sanctum, that's the tiny broadcast studio of Star FM. It's a commercial Russian-language radio station, and Julia Mango is one of the breakfast show hosts. More than a third of Estonians are ethnic Russian, and after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Estonia shut down Russian-speaking schools here. It said it wanted to stop parallel societies.

And in the inner sanctum, that's the tiny broadcast studio of Star FM. It's a commercial Russian-language radio station, and Julia Mango is one of the breakfast show hosts. More than a third of Estonians are ethnic Russian, and after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Estonia shut down Russian-speaking schools here. It said it wanted to stop parallel societies.

Do you feel like split between your Russian identity and your Estonian identity?

Do you feel like split between your Russian identity and your Estonian identity?

I've come to north-east Estonia now, and what you can hear is the wind-pummeled River Narva. It's basically a dividing line with Russia. I can see the buildings on the other side, and there is a bridge in between, one of the last pedestrian border crossings to Russia still open in Europe.

I've come to north-east Estonia now, and what you can hear is the wind-pummeled River Narva. It's basically a dividing line with Russia. I can see the buildings on the other side, and there is a bridge in between, one of the last pedestrian border crossings to Russia still open in Europe.