Le Pen’s French presidency bid at stake in court ruling
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s political future is in jeopardy on Tuesday as she appeals a Paris court’s decision on her eligibility to run in the next presidential election.
Tuesday’s decision could reshape the 2027 contest to replace President Emmanuel Macron if he ousts the popular Le Pen.
The constitution prevents Macron from running for a third consecutive term.
Le Pen, 57, is appealing a March 2025 conviction that found her and other members of her National Rally party guilty of misusing European Parliament funds by paying party staff for EU parliamentary assistants between 2004 and 2016.
The lower court sentenced him to prison, suspended his appeal, and barred him from holding elected office for five years.
Le Pen has denied any wrongdoing and still hopes to become a fourth candidate for the presidency.
But a ruling upholding a long-term ban could make that impossible and put on hold the career that has turned the National Rally into a major political force.
Such a decision could also have repercussions on the European Union, pushing aside a harsh critic of the 27-nation bloc.
If he is banned, he will be replaced by his protégé, Jordan Bardella.
Bardella, 30, is the chairman of the anti-immigration, EU-skeptic National Rally.
Other results are also possible.
The appeals court could still find Le Pen guilty, but could reduce her ban on holding elected office to two years or less or impose no ban at all.
The ban of two years or less will expire before the first round of the French presidential election, scheduled for April 2027.
However, this does not automatically mean that Le Pen will be the candidate.
He said he might decide not to run if the court imposes other restrictions that would make campaigning difficult.
This may include any prison time, electronic monitoring, or other judicial restrictions.
“You understand that if I am allowed to run for office but am effectively prevented from campaigning freely, it will not be possible,” Le Pen said in an interview.
Prosecutors asked the appeals court to sentence Le Pen to four years in prison, three of which are suspended, in addition to a five-year ban from serving in elected office.
They accused Le Pen of heading a “system” aimed at “siphoning off” EU public funds to the benefit of her party.
Le Pen may continue to appeal to the Supreme Court, France’s highest court, but it is unclear whether judges will postpone the sentence pending a final decision.
