Key facts
- Marine Le Pen's appeal against an embezzlement conviction and a five-year ban from public office is set to be decided.
- The verdict from a Paris appeals court will determine if she can run in the 2027 French presidential election.
- Le Pen was found guilty in a lower court of embezzling European parliament funds between 2004 and 2016.
- Prosecutors are seeking to maintain her five-year ban and a jail term of four years, with three suspended.
- Jordan Bardella is considered the National Rally's alternative candidate if Le Pen is disqualified.
Marine Le Pen, the leader of France's far-right National Rally (RN) party, awaits a crucial verdict from a Paris appeals court on her challenge to an embezzlement conviction and a five-year ban from holding public office. The ruling, expected Tuesday, will significantly impact her political future and the party's prospects in the 2027 French presidential election.
A lower court had found Le Pen, along with 24 others, guilty of using European Parliament funds to employ National Rally staff in France between 2004 and 2016. Prosecutors are seeking to uphold the five-year ban and a four-year prison sentence, with three years suspended. Le Pen has denied the charges, claiming her party acted in "complete good faith" and was the victim of a "witch-hunt."
Several outcomes are possible: acquittal, a reduced ban, or the confirmation of the existing ban, which has been in effect since March last year. Le Pen has stated that if the ban is upheld and prevents her from campaigning freely, she would not run. If disqualified, attention would likely turn to the party's president, Jordan Bardella, 30, as a potential candidate, though his relative inexperience and personal life have drawn scrutiny.
Polls suggest both Le Pen and Bardella could perform strongly in the first round of the 2027 election. However, opponents believe Bardella might face greater challenges in a runoff. Le Pen has indicated she would likely not appeal to France's highest court if the appeals court rules against her, citing the need for certainty for her party's presidential campaign.